O'Brien looking for another Chester Vase win

Ballydoyle have already stamped their considerable presence on Chester's May

meeting and Thursday's Chester Vase (Eng-G3) has been a happy hunting ground of

late, with Aidan O'Brien capturing five of the last eight renewals. With the

chief candidate Giovanni Canaletto (Galileo) ruled out of the equation earlier

this week, it is up to Hans Holbein (Montjeu) to fly the flag and he is a

typical improver based on his latest maiden win over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown

April 15.

Godolphin rely on Future Empire (New Approach), who tackles this trip for the

first time having finished runner-up to Christophermarlowe (Tapit) in the

10-furlong Epsom Derby Trial April 22.

"Future Empire stayed on well at Epsom Downs and has been working nicely

since then," trainer Saeed bin Suroor commented. "He is ready for the step up to

a mile and a half and I am hopeful that he can run a good race."

William Haggas has opted to send Storm the Stars (Sea the Stars) back into

action just 12 days after his authoritative 10-furlong Leicester maiden success

and that is significant.

"He won with a bit in hand at Leicester and this mile and a half will suit

him," Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's racing manager Bruce Raymond told PA

Sport. "We were disappointed with his first run of the season at Newmarket, but

William made the horse's mind up for him by making the running at Leicester and

it worked out great."

Chester's May meeting is one of the smallest of the British flat festivals,

but its main races are still coveted by the leading trainers and the Huxley S.

(Eng-G3) has been a favorite of Sir Michael Stoute who holds the current record

of five wins. Thursday, the master of Freemason Lodge relies on Cannock Chase

(Lemon Drop Kid), who was an encouraging third in Sandown's Gordon Richards S.

(Eng-G3) April 24 on his first start since winning the Tercentenary S. (Eng-G3)

at Royal Ascot last June.

"We were delighted with him at Sandown on ground that was probably a bit soft

for him," Raymond told PA Sport. "The ground might be soft again at Chester and

I don't think Sir Michael would run him if it got too bad.

"He needed the run at Sandown in preparation for the rest of the season, so

the ground maybe took the edge off him, fitness-wise. The ground should not be

as big an issue now he's a fitter horse. I'd be surprised if he didn't turn out

to be a very decent horse this summer."

Windhoek (Cape Cross) beat the subsequent Rose of Lancaster S. (Eng-G3)

winner Amralah (Teofilo) in the Gala S. at Sandown July 4 and took the Anatolia

Trophy on Veliefendi's Polytrack in September either side of a third placing in

the York S. (Eng-G2) over an extended 10-furlong trip in late July.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said, "Windhoek won well on his latest start in

Turkey and we gave him a break after that run. He has been working well and I

have been happy with his preparation. He's ready to go and I am looking forward

to seeing him get his season started."

Any further rain will aid the cause of Air Pilot (Zamindar), who signed off

with a win in the James Seymour S. at Newmarket at the start of November.

"It's a perfect race to start off," trainer Ralph Beckett told PA Sport.

"He's in good shape and his work this spring has been fine. The rain that has

fallen will suit him, as he's better when there's juice in the ground."

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