ILLINOIS TO PROVE CUT ABOVE ORMONDE OPPOSITION

By Anita Chambers, PA

Illinois can make his class tell as he lines up in the Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes at Chester.

The four-year-old hails from the family of Arc winner Danedream and he certainly showed a fair amount of ability during his Classic campaign without actually hitting the target on the biggest days.

His potential was obvious, having placed at Group One level as a juvenile, but early reverses in two Derby trials saw him bypass Epsom and instead tackle the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, where he made an effortless step up to 14 furlongs.

Moved back for a crack at the Grand Prix de Paris, he was edged out by Sosie before again having to give best to stablemate Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur and then Jan Brueghel in the St Leger, beaten just a neck on both occasions.

He rounded out with Group Two consolation in France and while he has to concede weight to the likes of Absurde, who also has a fitness edge, Illinois looked far from the finished article last term and has that extra bit of pace which could prove crucial.

High Stock can make the leap to Listed level in the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes.

This son of Dubawi did not race at two but made an immediate impact on his three-year-old bow, winning the Wood Ditton at Newmarket in game style and looking as though a step up to an extended mile and a quarter would suit.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the obvious pick on form but he might not enjoy quickermground on the Roodee, while good going will be no issue for the selection.

Fair Taxes can strike for Ross O'Sullivan in the CAA Stellar Handicap.

He ran a cracker to finish third at this track last term despite being hampered by a high draw and his inside stall is a positive factor here.

The four-year-old also arrives with a prep run under his belt, having finished fourth at Dundalk last month after just getting a bit tired in the closing stages.

At Chelmsford, Opera Score takes the eye off a mark of 77 in the Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap.

She is having her first start in this sphere having won a Wolverhampton novice contest in March before finishing down the field in a similar event at Kempton last month.

The race was not run to suit that day as it turned into a bit of a sprint and Opera Score might fare better in handicap company.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

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

CHESTER: Race 1: 14.30 Fair Taxes, Race 2: 15.05 Tricky Tel, Race 3: 15.35 High Stock, Race 4:
16.05 ILLINOIS (NAP), Race 5: 16.40 Miami Matrix, Race 6: 17.10 Austrian Theory, Race 7: 17.45
Kuredu King.

HUNTINGDON: Race 1: 14.45 Ile De Jersey, Race 2: 15.15 Theatre Of Flight, Race 3: 15.45 Time
For Tea, Race 4: 16.15 Zoffalee, Race 5: 16.50 Iskar D'Airy, Race 6: 17.25 Snatch A Glance.

BRIGHTON: Race 1: 15.25 Time Patrol, Race 2: 15.55 Critical Aclaim, Race 3: 16.25 Clipsham
Noble, Race 4: 17.00 Irezumi, Race 5: 17.35 Kranjcar, Race 6: 18.10 Mehmo.

STRATFORD: Race 1: 18.25 Therapist, Race 2: 18.55 Sir Galahad, Race 3: 19.30 Summerleaze,
Race 4: 20.05 Carapaz, Race 5: 20.35 My Virtue, Race 6: 21.05 My Bobby's Lass.

CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 19.20 Marajito, Race 2: 19.55 Bint Havana Gold, Race 3: 20.25 Cayman
Dancer, Race 4: 20.55 Opera Score, Race 5: 21.25 Carlton, Race 6: 21.55 Aspire To Glory.

DOUBLE: High Stock and Illinois (Chester, Races 3 and 4).

For fields, race betting and more information, go to www.tab.co.za