Chester Tips: Three for Day 1 of the May Festival

Chester's three-day May Festival begins on Wednesday with a seven-race card - running from 13:30-16:45 - featuring the Cheshire Oaks and Chester Vase Stakes.

My Chester tips includes a selection for both races, plus one for the opening handicap.

13:30 - Beyond Borders @ 9/1

Chester is a very sharp track that possesses a significant draw bias - favouring low numbers - especially over sprint trips. It also lends itself those who like to race prominently.

With that in mind, I'm suggesting Karl Burke's BEYOND BORDERS for this six-furlong handicap for three-year-olds rated 0-90.

The son of Harry Angel tends to sit just off the pace in his races and he's been handed the plum draw in stall one, so he ticks a couple of boxes off the bat.

I also think his turn is near. Having progressed steadily through the handicap ranks last season, rising from a mark of 70 to 87 in just four months, he returned on the all-weather at Lingfield a couple of months ago and clearly needed the run, before a much-improved effort at Pontefract.

He was second at 'Ponte' behind the then 88-rated James's Delight who won off a nine-pound higher mark on the 2000 Guineas card at Newmarket on Saturday, warranting a further increase of five. So despite being beaten over six lengths, it's fair form boasted by the selection given how much that rival had in hand. It's also noteworthy that he finished over two lengths clear of the other three.

This looks an easier assignment and off a further reduced mark of 85, I'm expecting a big run.

15:05 - Forest Fairy @ 5/2

The Cheshire Oaks was won by 11-time Group 1 winner Enable in 2017 and produced subsequent Betfred Oaks runner-up Savethelastdance last year, so it's fair to say the Listed affair over 1m3½f is becoming a key race during the early stages of the flat season.

I doubt there's anything of that calibre, certainly Enable's, lining up on Wednesday, but I am excited about Ralph Beckett's FOREST FAIRY.

The Waldgeist filly has only run once so far in her career, on the all-weather at Wolverhampton back in February, but she could hardly have been more impressive on the eye.

The form is mixed, but it's promising that the runner-up Los Toldos won next time out - and ultimately the selection did it by six lengths eased down, despite breaking slowly, so it would be unwise to look too much into that.

She looks a top prospect and the speed she showed at Wolverhampton suggests she's going to be suited by the test Chester provides. I'm hoping she can book her Betfred Oaks ticket in style.

15:40 - Hidden Law @ 5/2

Just over half an hour later is the Chester Vase Stakes - a Group 3 for three-year-old colts and geldings over 1m4½f. A Betfred Derby trial.

Grosvenor Square heads the market at time of writing, but I'm more than happy to let him win at current prices given Aidan O'Brien's recent form and how much his runners have needed their first run.

Instead, I'm drawn to HIDDEN LAW for the 2000 Guineas-winning combination of Charlie Appleby and William Buick.

The son of Dubawi made his debut at Southwell less than two months ago and was a fast-finishing second to the re-opposing Cadogan Place, before taking a significant step forward when bolting up in a Newbury maiden exactly 18 days ago.

He probably beat little the last day, but he did it in some style and we've seen plenty of times already this season how much these Godolphin horses are improving from run to run.

I strongly fancy the selection to confirm form with Andrew Balding's runner and if there's any flaws in the favourite, which as I've already suggested is very possible, he's the one I make most likely to capitalise .