The Chester Cup (Friday 11 May, 3.35) was first run in 1824 and it remains one of the most prestigious long-distance handicaps of the entire flat season. It is run over a trip of 2 miles 2 furlongs and 140 yards at Chester Racecourse and is open to horses aged four and older. Its most famous recent winner is Trip To Paris who went on to win the 2015 Ascot Gold Cup in the same season.
Chester Cup 2018 10-Year-Trends
- The last 10 winners have been rated between 93 and 99
- Winners carried between 8-9 and 9-6
- 7 of the last 10 winners were drawn between stall 1 and stall 7
- Jim Crowley and Jamie Spencer have both ridden 2 of the last 10 winners
- Winners were aged 4 to 8 with five of the ten winners being six-year-olds
- SP’s have ranged from 11/2 to 33/1
- Only 1 of the last 10 favourites has won
Chester Cup 2018 Main Contenders
Magic Circle
6-year-old who has been prominent in the betting since the ante-post markets opened and his price contracted further when it was announced he had been drawn in stall 6. That’s because he was fifth in the race last year from stall-18. However, he is 3lb higher this year and is 2lb higher than any of the last 10 winners, but he still looks likely to go close.
Stargazer
Formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute but seems to have relished the move to Phil Kirby’s yard after having been off the track for 18 months. Finished a good second on the all-weather at Newcastle over 2-miles on his comeback before looking an improved animal when disqualified after being first past the post back at Newcastle on his next run. He has plenty of useful turf form to his name though and should run well from stall 4.
Who Dares Wins
Placed over hurdles at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals but his trainer Alan King is on record as saying the Chester Cup is his big aim for the season. He’s a course winner who is also proven over this sort of trip elsewhere, but a draw in stall-15 could make life tough.
Time To Study
Brings some top-class form to the table after chasing home Torcedor at Ascot last time but rated 9lb higher than any of the last 10 winners. Not too badly drawn in stall 7 though and jockey Franny Norton has an excellent record on him.
Dubawi Fifty
Plenty of winning form at two-miles and was stayed on in determined fashion to be fourth over a similar trip in last year’s Cesarewitch. He’s also 3lb better off with Stargazer for a neck on their running at Newcastle and weighted to go close if stall-10 isn’t too much of an inconvenience.
Chester Cup 2018 Summary
Magic Circle shouldn’t be too far away from a much better draw than last year, but it’s Stargazer who ideally fits the statistics regarding ratings, weight to carry, and the draw.
Chester Cup 2018 Tip
Stargazer