Take Benvenuto to cement Derby claims in Vase

Benvenuto Cellini is expected to cement his status as Derby favourite with victory in the Boodles Chester Vase on Wednesday.

The flashy chestnut won twice from four juvenile starts last season, including a runaway Group Two win on Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.

He was a beaten favourite in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on his final start at two, but given he is out of top-class American mare Newspaperofrecord, the testing conditions on Town Moor were always likely to be against him and he was not disgraced in finishing third behind two stablemates.

Aidan O’Brien has spoken positively about Benvenuto Cellini this spring, seeing him move to the head of ante-post lists for the premier Classic, and it will be a surprise if he does not provide his trainer with a 12th win in this recognised trial.

The Weatherbys Cheshire Oaks throws up an intriguing clash between O’Brien’s experienced and highly regarded filly Amelia Earhart and the John and Thady Gosden-trained I’m The One, who made an explosive debut at Newbury three weeks ago.

With a rating of 99 Amelia Earhart sets a decent standard, but O’Brien did recently brand the Camelot filly “a bit strange and a bit quirky” and that theory is backed up by the fact she is fitted with blinkers and a hood for the first time on her return to action.

There was plenty of chat about I’m The One before her introduction and having lived up to the billing with a 6-length demolition job, she is expected to follow up in a race the Gosden team memorably won with superstar Enable nine years ago.

Hugo Palmer has made a good start to the season with his two-year-olds and can take out the CAA Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes with Wait Geordie.

The Mehmas colt made every yard of the running on his Bath debut a month ago, with his trainer stating afterwards that he had already identified the speedy youngster as a likely candidate for this prestigious event.

He is in receipt of 5lb from dual winner Adonius and that could tip the balance in his favour.

The impeccably-bred Brilliant Star looks banker material for the Gosden team on the all-weather at Kempton.

The three-year-old is a daughter of owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer’s two star performers in Cracksman and Star Catcher and after finishing a promising second on her sole juvenile start at Newcastle, she bolted up by 10 lengths on her Yarmouth comeback a fortnight ago.

Brilliant Star did hold a Cheshire Oaks entry, but takes the easier option of the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At Unibet Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes and she should prove a different class.

Tanking Along is rated the best bet at Kelso in the Bedmax Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old has won over hurdles and fences at Sedgefield this season and was last seen finishing a fine third when 8lb out of the weights in a decent contest at Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting.

Dropping down in grade, he can return to winning ways under top conditioner Charlie Maggs. – Press Association 

TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings on Wednesday. Here are the tips.

CHESTER: Race 1: 14.30 Wait Geordie, Race 2: 15.05 Partisan Hero, Race 3: 15.35 I’m The One, Race 4: 16.05 BENVENUTO CELLINI (NAP), Race 5: 16.40 Alaminos, Race 6: 17.10 Arabian Desert, Race 7: 17.45 Crimson Spirit.

NEWTON ABBOT: Race 1: 14.45 Etalon, Race 2: 15.15 Bold Step, Race 3: 15.45 Storminhome, Race 4: 16.15 Northern Air, Race 5: 16.50 Reel Orange, Race 6: 17.20 Juggernaut.

KELSO: Race 1: 14.55 Dartmouth Castle, Race 2: 15.25 The Clonmel Kid, Race 3: 15.55 High Dancer, Race 4: 16.25 William Yeats, Race 5: 17.00 Vanilla Dancer, Race 6: 17.32 Tanking Along, Race 7: 18.02 Whatdeawant, Race 8: 18.32 Datstheholyallofit.

FONTWELL: Race 1: 18.42 Marhaba Million, Race 2: 19.12 Pivotal Days, Race 3: 19.42 Valirann Gold, Race 4: 20.12 Man Oh Man, Race 5: 20.42 Footloose Man, Race 6: 21.12 Major Dino.

KEMPTON: Race 1: 19.00 Sceptic, Race 2: 19.30 Trio, Race 3: 20.00 Brilliant Star, Race 4: 20.30 Katie’s Song, Race 5: 21.00 Ribenska, Race 6: 21.30 Taskheer, Race 7: 22.00 Rye.

DOUBLE: I’m The One and Benvenuto Cellini (Chester, Races 3 and 4)