Lucky 15 Tips: Roodee party closes with a flourish

Chester's fabulous May gathering concludes with an EIGHT-race jamboree on Friday. The first FIVE are covered LIVE on ITV, and the highlight is the Chester Cup at 15:05, first run way back in 1824.

My favourite racehorse of all time, the peerless dual-purpose superstar Sea Pigeon, won this great race twice (in successive years); and it makes for a tremendous spectacle.

We've highlighted winners at the meeting over the last couple of days, and enjoyed the action immensely. Did we see the Betfred Oaks heroine-to-be on Wednesday I wonder (Amelia Earhart)? Every chance.

Onward and upward then to York next week and the Dante meeting, which I'm lucky enough to be attending. What a time of the year for sport. Just epic.

Horse Racing odds

13:30 - El Burhan @ 7/2

10.5f Class 2 handicap, for older horses.

With 13 slated to face the starter the draw will be consequential (when isn't it around here); and I'm taking a chance by selecting a four-year-old gelding who is drawn mid-div, in the seven box.

El Burhan sports the legendary Shadwell silks of Nashwan and company, and we're looking here at the 2000 Guineas pairing of jockey Billy Loughnane and trainer George Boughey.

'El' is a superb four-from-nine all told, including winning this contest last term off 93. He must defy a mark of 100 today, but has really broken through in his last two spins performance-wise, and concerning the draw he did race in midfield last year initially when taking this so a repeat, if his exit isn't super-slick, could still be possible.

The trainer and jockey will be on Cloud 109 right now but it's still been business as usual. Billy has struck at this meeting, and George followed that Newmarket Classic success with a slightly less exalted but nevertheless welcome winner at Hamilton on Sunday.

14:05 - Galiyan @ 5/4

A three-year-old maiden now, over 1m 4.5f.

Interesting fare, good yards represented, and little public form to go on - but Galiyan runs for trainer Andrew Balding, has Oisin Murphy up, and will benefit from having had a sighter at HQ 22 days ago over a couple of furlongs less.

The selection is by decent miler Galiway, but is out of a Monsun mare (he excelled at this kind of trip in Europe). There could be a deal of improvement courtesy of the experience gained and the extra real estate to be covered, and he certainly ran green throughout on debut.

The yard have been very consistently firing in the winners and much better can be expected in terms of performance.

14:35 - King's Gambit @ 13/2

A Group 2 clash now, the Huxley, over 10.5f.

Aidan O'Brien saddles Betfred Derby winner Lambourn, also successful in the Irish equivalent, but who couldn't keep that little streak going in subsequent outings in York's Great Voltigeur, or the Betfred St Leger.

I'm taking a chance and opposing him with King's Gambit, a five-year-old Saxon Warrior gelding. He represents Wathnan Racing, and is housed at Harry Charlton's historic Beckhampton base.

The owner's main man James Doyle has the riding assignment, and King's Gambit has had the benefit of a reappearance run, a fine running-on 3.75l second at HQ in a G3 at slightly shorter.

That will have put him spot-on for this and if the likely Ballydoyle favourite is either a degree under, or possibly needing the run slightly, our pick is readily situated to take advantage.

Has a bit to find on official marks, sure - but connections are masters at annexing these big festival prizes and at a value price I'm hopeful.

15:40 - Hoodie Hoo @ 7/1

Class 4 handicap sprint now, over 6f.

That draw is again of massive import, with 15 pencilled in to face the starter, but our selection is drawn reasonably in four and one has to hope he's got his trapping boots on!

The 'he' in question is Hoodie Hoo, a four-year-old Hello Youmzain gelding trained by Charlie Hills and ridden by Jason Watson. The horse is owned by a small group that includes Sir Alex Ferguson and after feeling unwell at weekend the former Manchester United manager I believe was hospitalised.

We wish him a speedy recovery, and send all our very best.

'Hoodie' ran at Lingfield 18 days ago and after an awkward start did well to finish within 1.5l of the winner. It was a fine effort and the horse races this afternoon off the same mark, 78.

Charlie's late father Barry Hills was a wizard here, and I bet he'd love to go close or even better with this pretty consistent type.

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £680 for a £7.50 total stake. If you can improve upon our selections (of course you can) - then go for it!

Lucky 15 tips with Betfred Insights.