Future Epsom Derby hero leads Chester Lucky 15
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Sir Isaac Newton has already been earmarked as the horse to watch this season by famed Racing Post tipster Pricewise and he makes his first start of the current campaign in a maiden at Chester that he should win at a cakewalk if a serious contender for the 2015 Epsom Derby.
The Aidan O’Brien three-year-old is one of four selections on the first of three days of this May Chester meeting, with the quartet combining to make a 360/1 fourfold.
Mark Johnstone won the Lily Agnes last year with Mukhmal and appears to have an even bigger speedball on his hands with Rah Rah.
Johnstone’s two-year-olds have been in fine form so far in 2015 with 22 of his 27 finishing in the first three, which includes Rah Rah’s impressive success on debut in March.
Low draws are useful around Chester’s tight turns and this is arguably even more the case over the sprint distances. Rah Rah will break from stall two over this 5f trip.
The Cheshire Oaks has been a race for outsiders in the last three years, with the shortest-priced winner in this time being sent off at 9/1.
O’Brien saddles the favourite with Diamondsandrubies, who was a slightly unlucky third in a Listed event last time when caught short of room at the pivotal moment.
Her bare form is reasonable, but the she didn’t look the most straightforward ride last time and others appeal more at the prices.
Zamoura looks one for the each-way thieves, while Loaves And Fishes could be anything after blazing clear of a secondary field on her sole start.
Victoria Pollard did something similar on her only run to date and there is a feeling that the opposition at Newbury was of a better standard.
Where Sir Isaac Newton goes from this maiden is anybody’s guess as a stab at the Irish 1,000 Guineas seems equally as likely as a visit to Epsom for the Derby.
He was second on his only run to date behind the now 111-rated Zawraq and a performance anywhere close to this level should be comfortably enough to take this.
John Gosden’s Keble, who holds a Derby entry himself, would appear the main danger, but still a class below the O’Brien fancy.
Graceland certainly seemed to have improved over the winter when securing victory at Wolverhampton a fortnight ago with a bit in hand. That success also arrived after a step up in trip to 1m4f.
Michael Bell’s three-year-old has seen his official rating raised 4lb for that victory, but has 3lb claimer Shane Gray in the saddle this time, which effectively counteracts this.
The last victory was on the all-weather, but assuming slightly that Graceland is capable of at least matching this level on Chester’s turf, he still looks well in.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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