Tony Martin, the shrewd Irish trainer, loves to take aim at today’s Ladbrokes Chester Cup and its consolation race and I can see his three runners in the two races making their mark.

Back Peaky Blinder 1 point each way at 8-1 with bet365, paying five places.

Back Peaky Blinder 1 point each way at 8-1 with bet365, paying five places.

ZANNDABAD has not won on the flat for three seasons but he is down to a nice mark of 91 in the Chester Cup (3.05 p.m.). He ran a huge race in this contest in 2024 when third to Zoffee after meeting trouble in running from his double-figure draw in stall 10.

Today he is only marginally better drawn in stall 9 but we know he handles the track and the good ground, plus Clifford Lee is an interesting jockey booking too. Back him 1 point each way at 12-1 with bet365 or Paddy Power, both paying five places.

Alphonse Le Grande also runs for Martin in this race and he has a decent chance of landing the prize too judged on his win in the Chester Plate in 2024 and his even more impressive victory in the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket later the same season. The seven-year-old gelding is down to a nice mark of 90 but I want to go into the race double-handed with another runner who looks well handicapped.

Bottom weight PEAKY BLINDER is an improving........

© The Spectator