SILVESTRE DE SOUSA: Chester Saturday

I’m riding at Chester on Friday night so decided to stay up here and ride at their Saturday meeting too. I didn’t pick up a ride in the Northumberland Plate so it was actually better just to stay here. In fact, we have made a bit of a trip out of it as I’ve brought the family. We are off to the zoo on Friday ahead of racing as the two little ones are desperate to see the penguins. If they don’t start behaving, we might leave them there! Anyway, its lovely to have them with me and we can all head back to Newmarket after racing on Saturday…

SATURDAY

CHESTER

GREATNESS AWAITS – 2.30pm

My first ride of the afternoon is for Mick Channon aboard Greatness Awaits who I rode at Newbury a few weeks ago. He seemed to enjoy the positive ride that day and was a good second to Al Azhar. He’s 3lbs higher at the weights this time in a better race but should go well. He’s only a three-year-old in against some old-seasoned pros, but he shouldn’t be far away. In fact, the big dangers look to be the other three-year-olds in Wynter Wildes and Australian Harbour.

ROMAN DRAGON – 3.40pm

Next up I partner Roman Dragon for the first time for Hugo Palmer. The extra ½ furlong probably found him out here a few weeks ago so the drop back to seven should help. He’s got plenty of speed and I guess we will try and be positive on him again, although drawing the widest of stalls is a bit of a shame. Hebrides has won three on the bounce and looks the obvious one.

PHOENIX STAR – 4.45pm

Another disappointing draw for the next where I ride Phoenix Star (pictured below, pink cap) in the sprint from trap 12! I won on him back in 2020 when he was trained by Stuart Williams and have yet to ride him for Jessica Macey. He’s dropped to a mark of 70 now and can be competitive if reproducing either of his first two runs of the campaign. We will need a fair bit of luck from the draw though.

HYDROPLANE – 5.20pm

My final ride of the afternoon is Hydroplane in the last for Ian Williams. He’s one I’ve never ridden before, and he ran slightly better than his finishing position implies here last time. He’s gone well at Chester in the past and has been dropped a couple of pounds by the handicapper. Ideally, I guess he might like a bit of rain, but he should go well. The first-time cheek pieces should sharpen him up a little too. I guess the dangers are likely to be Baileys Derbyday and Emiyn.

CURRAGH

3.45pm (Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby)

The big race of the weekend is the Irish Derby where all eyes will be on the filly Tuesday who takes on the boys. She may well be really good and gets a handy 3lbs. However, I just cannot see her beating Ralph Beckett’s Westover (pictured below) who ran such a good race at Epsom. He’d have been a lot closer with a smoother passage and this track should suit.

Good Luck
SDS

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