RACING/Chester preview and News: Jockey Jimmy Quinn can land a third victory in the Tote Chester Cup when he teams up with the in-form Flownaway in today's prestigious race.
The four-year-old was earmarked for the event by trainer William Jarvis immediately after winning at Ascot at the end of March and Quinn - who this week became a father for the second time - is bullish about his chances.
"I think he's got a very, very good chance," he said. "I had a sit on him last week. He's in good form and the Ascot race is working out. He's a handy horse. He travels well and Chester will suit him."
The Ascot success was Flownaway's fourth victory in five starts, and there could be more improvement to come from this progressive four-year-old.
Flownaway struck a winning vein as soon as he was stepped up in trip to a mile and a half on the Southwell all-weather in December, and he followed up with victories at Southwell again and at Lingfield.
His last run of the winter ended in defeat back at Lingfield, where he did not get the best of runs before finishing well to take second behind Moon Emperor.
Jarvis was hopeful there would be more in the tank when Flownaway was switched to the turf, and so it proved with a half-length victory over Establishment in the Tote Exacta Handicap over Ascot's two miles.
He will have to improve again to win today, but is clearly on the upgrade and there is no reason to suppose he has peaked just yet.
He has not been blessed with the best of draws in box one next to the rails on this ultra-tight track, but Quinn knows his way around the Roodee, having won the race on Welshman in 1992 and Merit in 1996.
Dangers abound of course, as you would expect in a £120,000 race, and among those who must come into the reckoning are Fortune Island, Big Moment, Direct Bearing and Romany Prince.
Barry Hills is the top trainer at the track and he can improve his record by taking the Cheshire Oaks with Hecuba. The filly was an impressive all-the-way winner of her maiden by 10 lengths at Ripon last month and is a half-sister to 2000 Chester Cup winner Bangalore.
She should appreciate the step up to an extended 11 furlongs.
Hills can initiate a double with Trust Rule in the Bank Of Scotland Handicap. The Selkirk colt stepped up on previous runs when second in a Doncaster maiden at the opening meeting of the season, with the rest beaten off seven lengths, and is going the right way.
Falbrav, Highdown and Rakti are the three British-trained acceptors remaining in the Group One Premio Presidente della Repubblica over 10 furlongs in Rome on Sunday.
Luca Cumani's Falbrav, a triple Group One winner for former trainer Luciano d'Auria, landed the corresponding race last year.
The son of Fairy King had his debut run for Cumani and acquitted himself well when third in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on ground much softer than he likes. Falbrav beat Godolphin's Ekraar in the della Repubblica last year and the Dubai operation have Highdown entered this time.
Two of the Kentucky Derby also-rans, Buddy Gil, who finished sixth and ninth-placed Ten Most Wanted, picked up injuries in the 129th running of the race at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Trainer, Jeff Mullins, has reported that the Santa Anita Derby winning Buddy Gil has bone chips, which have been confirmed by X-ray examination.
The Illinois Derby winner Ten Most Wanted was found to have a back problem after also failing to run up to his best.
