Chester May Meeting - Cheshire Oaks

2.20 Chester

Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks (For The Robert Sangster Memorial Cup) (Fillies' Listed) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner £17,031

Pick: Wonder Of Wonders (win)

Bildn: Bred to do far better this year (dam half-sister to Oaks winner Lady Carla) and this trip far more suitable than pair of 6f maidens last summer; That said, much more needed and might improve for the run.

Blaise Chorus: Probably bettered her debut form when third in 10 furlong AW event at Deauville latest (winner decent for level), and step up in trip again expected to suit; But did get readily outpointed and this step up in class.

Encore Une Annee: Decent form on first two starts, especially when third of 17 in 1m Doncaster maiden (form working out well) and made short work of actually breaking maiden at Southwell; Can do better again.

Fork Handles: Very takingly bred filly who should improve with experience (by Doyen out of Natalie Jay) so possibly surprise to see her win 4 runner race on debut; Pretty well beaten on all forays into Group company afterwards but this will be drop in class from last runs and trip could bring about improvement.

Jaaryah: Looked set for better things when making promising debut at Kempton over 7 furlongs so disappointing she couldn’t make more of an impact in two nurseries next time out (well beaten on both occasions); Step up in trip should help but something to prove.

Midnight Caller: Good debut second in very warm maiden at Doncaster (jumped at a camera, otherwise she would have won) and didn't have to improve to go one better in easy fashion at Leicester; Disappointed in May Hill Stakes on last run as a two – year old but can be forgiven that and could make up into useful horse at three; The one to beat.

Musharakaat: Created good impression when winning 13 runner AW maiden easily; Put in place when fifth in Newmarket Group 3 but third in May Hill an improvement; Looked exposed when well beaten in sales race last time and showed nothing on seasonal return, so percentage call to pass her over.

Sunday Bess: Japanese filly by Deep Impact; Promise when touched off in fair 7f AW backend maiden at Lingfield on debut and looked ready for step up in trip when fourth at Newbury on seasonal reappearance; This tougher.

Wonder Of Wonders: Regally bred, being a daughter of Oaks second All Too Beautiful & also sister Galileo, Black Sam Bellamy and half-sister to Sea The Stars; Built on deep impression created only start at 2 when cruising home in Tipperary maiden (got no run only start in-between) and should make bold bid.

VERDICT: Midnight Caller is certainly better than her May Hill run suggests, but her lack of a recent run may give the edge to WONDER OF WONDERS, who will have to be winning this well if she is to be taking a hand in the Oaks later this year. Of the remainder, Fork Handles is feared most.