Chester nap May 4: Above can continue upward Curve at May Festival
Action at Chester racecourse
Chester’s May Festival is always one to look forward to and it’s first day card on Wednesday, May 4 has tempted Planet Sport’s Jonathan Doidge in with a selection in a leading trial for the Oaks next
The Cheshire Oaks (14:40) has seen some very good fillies over the years, not least the brilliant Enable, who won the race for John Gosden in 2017. The Gosdens, Aidan O'Brien and Mark Johnston have all trained more than one winner of the race during the past decade and respect for anything they run is assured.
However, it's to another O'Brien, Joseph, whom I turn for a selection for the 2022 running. Joseph unleashed a huge American Pharoah filly named Above The Curve at Leopardstown last October. She was just an 18/1 chance that day but really caught the eye in finishing a close third (1m, good).
After a winter break, she was back last month and a short-priced favourite when upped to 1m2f at the same track. The way she ate up the ground to go past her opponents there was impressive and I think she can only get better, especially now up again in trip.
She'd already be a leading contender for the fillies' blue riband at Epsom next month in my mind after that effort and her price will only contract if, as I suspect, she proves good enough to win again.
The constant 'on-the-turn' nature of Chester will be a good test for her with Epsom's twists and undulations in mind and I don't think her trainer would be sending her to run if he didn't think she'd handle it.
So, to recap, it's Above The Curve to score in the 14:40 at Chester on Wednesday.
