racing_news/

Some Plans For Chester Festival Trials
29/04/05

Brittain has Hattan primed for MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase and Excusez Moi aimed at the Dee Stakes sponsored by Aberdeen Murray Johnstone and Halliwells

Clive Brittain today revealed that he is hoping to be represented in both of Chester's Derby trials, the Group Three £65,000 MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase, over an extended one mile and four furlongs, next Thursday (May 5) and the Group Three £65,000 Dee Stakes sponsored by Aberdeen Murray Johnstone & Halliwells, over an extended one mile and two furlongs, the following day (May 6).

The Newmarket trainer said: "Hattan is a possible for the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase, while Excusez Moi could run in the Dee Stakes."
Brittain won the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase in 1995 with Luso and struck again with Dutch Gold eight years later. Hattan, though still a maiden after three starts this year, ran extremely well when the two and a half length third to Irish raider Fracas in the Group Three Betfred Classic Trial over 10 furlongs on his latest start at Sandown on April 22.

"Hattan ran a cracking good race at Sandown - he missed the break and then got into a little bit of trouble on the inside. He certainly would have been second without any doubt and he would have put the winner under pressure if the race had gone a bit differently," explained Brittain.

"I don't think Chester will be a problem to him - it's just at Sandown, if you get down on the inside, you have a devil of a job to get out.

"He's entered in the Derby - we'll see how he gets on at Chester, which will tell us if he is good enough."

Excusez Moi was campaigned in Dubai earlier in the year before winning a Yarmouth maiden very easily by nine lengths on April 4. He then lined up in the Group Three Lane's End Greenham Stakes at Newbury 12 days later, coming home just under 10 lengths behind Indesatchel.

The handler commented: "We went for the Greenham with Excusez Moi thinking that we had a very good chance of running in the 2000 Guineas but he ran very disappointingly. Whether it was the ground or whatever it was, he never performed as he had when he broke his maiden at Yarmouth.

"There is obviously a big difference in class between a Yarmouth maiden and the Greenham but, having said that, there was a big difference in the way that he ran.

"I think Chester will bring the best out of him because it's a great schooling ground there and it teaches horses a lot. He's also in the Derby and, once again, it is see how he performs and hope for the best."

Michael Jarvis could also be represented in the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase by Gold Gun, who won on his reappearance this season when proving a short-head too powerful for Kong over 11 furlongs at Newbury on April 15, with the third 11 lengths adrift.

The Newmarket trainer said: "I may make an entry in the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase for a horse called Gold Gun. He is lightly-raced and won a maiden at Newbury two weeks ago and he's come out of that race fine."

Jarvis added: "Anak Pekan, who won last year's totesport Chester Cup (in 2005 on Wednesday, May 4)last year, is a probable runner in the same race again this year."

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien has already announced that he will have his first runners at Chester's May Festival. Leading Derby hope Gypsy King is on target for the Dee Stakes sponsored by Aberdeen Murray Johnstone & Halliwells, while Almighty is an intended in the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase.

Acropolis is being aimed at the Group Three £75,000 Blue Square Ormonde Stakes, over an extended mile and five furlongs, on Friday, May 6, and Coconut Beach goes for the £120,000 totesport Chester Cup, over an extended two miles and two furlongs, on the opening day, Wednesday, May 4. Solskjaer is due to run in the 10-furlong Group Three £65,000 Jardine Lloyd Thompson Huxley Stakes on Thursday, May 5, while two-year-old Where's That Tiger could take part in the opening contest of the meeting, the £20,000-added Joseph Heler Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes over five furlongs.

Clerk of the course Ed Gretton today described the going as Good (7.0 Turftrax). He said: "The course is in wonderful condition with a great covering of grass. It has not been raced on for seven and a half months.

"The forecast says we might receive a little bit of rain before the May Festival begins but the three racedays (Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, May 4 to 6) are predicted at the moment to be dry and pleasant. There are no plans to water but this would change if the going looked like becoming quicker than good to firm."