LiveScore Racing Preview: Chester, August 1, 2021

Sunday afternoon racing takes place on the Roodee at Chester — the world's longest-running racecourse.

The picturesque circuit stages a seven-race Sunday afternoon card, from 2.10pm through until 5.15pm, with the feature race being the Listed Queensferry Stakes over six furlongs at 3.10pm.

Conditions at Chester are set to be 'good to soft' for their Sunday offering and we have picked out five horses to follow. 

2.10pm - Printworks Nursery (5f)

The opening nursery over 5f features a pair of strong contenders from the Tom Dascombe yard in Roman Dragon and Devious Angel — both with winning Chester experience behind them — but last weekend's Musselburgh scoter MYTILDA could be capable of leaving them in the shade. 

The Kodiac filly took a chunky step forward with that effort and, despite a penalty, could finish over the top here again to defy her penalty with more progress possible.

LiveScore Selection: Mytilda

2.40pm - Chester FC Welcomes Fans Back EBF Novice Stakes (7f)

Zoffany filly PROSPEROUS VILLAGE was on the mark on her second start at Epsom in June for the Ralph Beckett team, getting up by the slenderest margin to deny Aswan after a real battle inside the final furlong. 

That form looks good in the wake of the runner-up having won a strong Glorious Goodwood nursery this week and Rob Hornby's mount should be holding the nap-hand here.

LiveScore Selection: Prosperous Village

3.10pm - Children's Air Ambulance Queensferry Stakes (Listed, 6f)

The feature contest on the card and smart sprinters Dakota Gold and Judicial will hold standout claims. 

The latter won this a year ago and, while not hitting the heights in two runs this term, could easily rebound back on a track where he has three wins and a second from four visits.

But MIGHTY GURKHA could give the big duo something to worry about. 

He has done all his winning on the all-weather to this point (3-5) but has been handed some stiff tasks on grass, including the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last time. 

This is more within his reach.

LiveScore Selection: Mighty Gurkha

3.45pm - Chester Marathon Handicap (1m4f)

Andrew Balding boasts a terrific record at Chester, with a strike-rate in excess of 20 per cent from close to 200 runners in the last five years. 

His team are in good form right now and RIVAL is his lone representative on the card. 

The 3YO gelding won here on handicap debut over shorter in June -making all — and perhaps was not suited by a tactically run four-runner event when held since. 

He should get some pace to aim at now going up in trip, and Oisin Murphy is a positive in the saddle.

LiveScore Selection: Rival

5.15pm - Mental Health UK Handicap (1m2f)

Few Chester meetings go by without Franny Norton getting on the board, and he's got a leading chance in the finale on the Mark Johnston-trained FAIRMAC. 

The 3YO had two runner-up efforts at Doncaster and Redcar in June before also finishing three-parts of a length third over this C&D (good) towards the end of that month and so was due that success in Scotland. 

He ultimately won decisively at Ayr and the form has well handsomely advertised in the three intervening weeks. He can defy a 4lb rise at the expense of Beverley winner Hector's Here and improving Two Brothers.

LiveScore Selection: Fairmac