We're going to Graceland, Graceland - Memphis Tennessee

Chester's May meeting is always well attended & gets some good horses running at it, especially considering the individual nature of the Roodee track with horses constantly running counter clockwise bends. Friday is the final day of the meeting & sees Group 3 races the Dee & Ormonde stakes with the races bringing together horses from some of the top trainers including last weekend's dual Guineas winner Aidan O'Brien. We're going to duck out of having a look at the Dee stakes as it looks a tough one & value may be thin on the ground but we like the look of one for the Ormonde & what looks a competitive little handicap in the later 7 furlong race.

(Memphis Tennessee (dark colours) coming 3rd in the Irish Derby)

In the 1m5f Ormonde stakes it looks like being a straight shootout between footballer Michael Owen's Brown Panther & O'Brien's Memphis Tennessee, both horses have some excellent form from 2011 & now have to prove that they are able to compete in top races as older horses this year. Brown Panther was runner up in the St Leger on good to firm ground & has only encountered soft ground the once in his career but won a top handicap easily on that occasion & on pedigree, being by Shirocco, he should handle the heavy ground here at Chester. Memphis Tennessee also has top class form though after finishing 4th in the English Derby & then 3rd in the Irish equivalent, he hasn't been seen since but O'Brien's string look in top form & he should have this one ready for the race. An 11 month break is slightly concerning but Brown Panther is also making his seasonal debut after 8 months off & you'd be hard pressed to argue that Tom Dascombe is better at getting one ready than O'Brien. Brown Panther probably has more chance of going on the prevailing ground but Memphis Tennessee is by Hurricane Run so it shouldn't prove too problematic & we'd rather take the odds of 6/5 on the Irish raider than Evens about the local horse, getting so close in both the English & Irish Derby suggests he was near the top of the tree of 3 year olds & if progressing this year could pick up some nice prizes.

In the 3.40 race we find it hard to get away from the chances of April Fool - a horse in the form of its life at the grand old age of 8. Now in his second spell with trainer Ron Harris this Pivotal gelding has always been a winning sort with 15 successes from 56 runs & every single one of those wins have come when making all - the perfect tactic at this racetrack & his jockey today has the perfect inside draw to work with. Soft ground may have been a worry as he's rarely encountered it but last time at Brighton (another difficult track to handle) he seemed to cope with the ground well when winning. Although the Brighton race was only a 4 runner affair the handicapper seems to have taken that into consideration & raised him just one pound higher, 83 will be the highest mark he's run off but with a win off marks of 81 & 82 it's definitely possible. The draw at Chester really is a massive factor & more so than any other track in the country, being drawn low is a big advantage due to having to make up less ground on the constantly turning course & will suit April Fool down to the ground, at odds of 9/1 this one is crying out to be backed.

Selections:
2.35 Chester - Memphis Tennessee to win at 6/5 (general)
3.40 Chester - April Fool each way at 9/1 (Stan James)