Published 9.02, 9.29 - all selections online
ZANNDABAD looked unlucky not to win the Chester Cup two years ago and granted better luck might be able to make amends in the 2026 renewal (3.05).
He only had two behind him with 2f remaining here in 2024, but threaded his way through the field and finished strongly into third, leaving the impression he would have won with a better track position.
That race didn’t look a particularly strong renewal on paper, with only a couple of horses rated above 95, but the better-handicapped horses in these class 2 handicaps aren’t always in the 95-100 range anyway.
Moreover, the placed horses were both solid yardsticks over course and distance, particularly the winner Zoffee, who had been narrowly beaten in second the previous year and finished third in 2025.
He looked as good as ever when finishing fourth in a warm handicap over an inadequate trip at the Ebor Festival last year. He’ll need luck in running but if things drop right for him, he has a good chance on the form of his previous run here.
The 6f three-year-old handicap at Ascot (4.00) is likely to prove as warm a 0-80 event as will be seen all season, but WEDONTTELLLIES is the suggestion as perhaps the pick of a bunch of potentially well-handicapped sprinters.
He seemed beaten by a combination of the trip and the dip when only fifth at Newmarket on his handicap debut last year, and 6f here might suit him better.
He was beaten a long way on his seasonal debut at Bath, but after being slowly away and being left with plenty to do at halfway, he started to make up ground and left the impression he was set to make an impact before running into lots of trouble, his rider finally accepting things after Wedonttellies received a hefty bump.
He was relatively weak in the market with a 7lb claimer on board that day, but William Buick takes over here, and he should get a good lead drawn next to in-form frontrunner Arry Up.
HUGH'S BEST BETS (scale 1-5 points)
3.05 CHESTER
1pt win ZANNDABAD (10-1 general)
4.00 ASCOT
1pt win WEDONTTELLIES (10-1 bet65, Unibet, 9-1 general)
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2026 results
2025 results ROI 1.34 +170 pts
2024 results ROI 1.05 +33.55 pts
2023 results ROI 1.27 +190 pts
2022 results ROI 1.12 +86 pts
2021 results ROI 1.40 +281 pts
2020 results ROI 1.13 +66.37pts
2019 results ROI 1.16 +101.38pts
2018 results ROI 1.55 +345pts
2017 results ROI 1.46 +282pts
2016 results ROI 1.44 +281pts
2015 results ROI 1.34 +207pts
2014 results ROI 1.32 +199.79pts
2013 results ROI 1.32 +210pts
2012 results ROI 1.31 +222.65pts
2011 results ROI 1.28 +302.64 pts
2010 results ROI 1.23 +324.79 pts
2009 results ROI 1.26 +500.36 pts
