Sunday 2nd August 2026
I’ve got three bets from Chester on Sunday in what is a competitive card on Queensferry Stakes Day. The first of my selections takes place in the opener at 2.10, which is the Radnor Hills Handicap, a Class 4 affair over a mile and four and a half furlongs. I’ve decided to take a chance on the unexposed three-year-old LEVEL LOOK here for the team of Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy. He’s only had four runs to date; however, he showed significant promise when winning a Class 3 novice event at Newcastle on his penultimate start in January, and was too keen to do himself justice on handicap debut at Newmarket last time out in July. He should naturally take a significant step forward coming into his second start of the season here, as well as his second attempt at handicaps, and I think he could go well off a two-pound lower mark.
Shortlist: Timber Twelve will be a very warm order at the top of the betting here for Michael Bell and Ross Coakley. He’s won three of his five starts to date, including last time out at Epsom where he won a Class 4 handicap by two and a quarter lengths. He’s six pounds higher for this particular assignment; however, that may not be enough to halt his current rate of progression.
Selection: Level Look – (4/1) (Each-Way) – (2.10 Chester)
1,2: Level Look (4/1), Timber Twelve (9/4) – (2.10 Chester)
My second bet of the afternoon at Chester comes within the 3.20, and this is the feature, the Listed Queensferry Stakes over six furlongs. I’m fairly strong on the chances of CALICO BLUE here for the combination of Roger Varian and Ray Dawson. He’s been progressing well within competitive handicaps this term, and his latest success came over course and distance last week, taking his tally to three wins from three starts at this track. Course distance can be pivotal around here, and whilst this is a fairly significant step up in grade for him, he looks well worth a try at this level. The Varian outfit is also operating at an impressive thirty-eight percent strike rate at the time of writing.
Shortlist: Declan Carroll’s Lifeplan makes a belated return to the track here under Zak Wheatley, and comes into the contest having won two from two starts, with the latest success coming in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York last August. If he’s anywhere near that level of form here, he’d win this, but he may need the run here to blow the cobwebs away. Nevertheless, he’s still a massive player. Fitzella was a Group 3 winner at Ayr last term, and followed that run up when finishing second in a French Group 2. She’s not quite been at her best since, however, she’d definitely be in the picture here if she returned to that level of form for Hugo Palmer and David Probert.
Selection: Calico Blue – (3/1) (Win) (NAP) – (3.20 Chester)
1,2,3: Calico Blue (3/1), Lifeplan (3/1), Fitzella (10/1) – (3.20 Chester)
The third and final bet of the day for me on Sunday comes within the 4.45 at Chester, and this is a Class 2 handicap contested over seven furlongs. This is competitive-looking; however, I’m quite strong on one here, and that’s MONARCH’S GOLD for Kevin Philippart De Foy and Toby Moore, who takes off a very handy seven pounds. He won twice within novice company; however, he has yet to get his head in front within handicaps. That doesn’t t paint the full picture though, as he’s run well on several occasions, notably when a neck second of twelve behind McMurray in a Class 2 event here at the May Festival. That run came off a two-pound higher mark; however, he’s effectively five pounds lower with Moore taking off seven via his claim. He also ran well at Hamilton last time out when third of five and a length and three-quarters behind the winner, in what was his first run since being gelded. I think he can make his presence felt back at this track.
Shortlist: Dance In The Storm won over course and distance a couple of starts back for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy, and he has to be considered as a live contender back here, as these are calmer waters than his Royal Ascot assignment last time out. You’d also be foolish to rule multiple course winner Roman Dragon out around here; he didn’t feature here last time within Listed company, however, he could bounce back to form now he’s reverted to handicap company for Hugo Palmer and David Probert.
Selection: Monarch’s Gold – (11/2) (Each-Way) (NB) – (3.52 Chester)
1,2,3: Monarch’s Gold (11/2), Dance In The Storm (3/1), Roman Dragon (14/1) – (3.52 Chester)
