Chester Preview: Memory looks Magical in Lily Agnes

The Lily Agnes Stakes (1.45) kicks off a cracking card on the first day of Chester’s May Festival, and Magical Memory looks worth siding with following a promising debut.

Trained by Charlie Hills, the colt was sent off the heavily-backed favourite for a 5f contest at Newbury and ran well to finish seventh of 13 to Kasb.

The son of Zebedee showed plenty of pace to race prominently, and held every chance a furlong from home before getting hampered and weakening out of contention.

Magical Memory was not knocked about once it was clear he would not be winning, and the form of the race is working out well.

The sixth Justice Good scored next time up at Windsor, and the eighth home Kibaar was desperately unlucky to finish second in what looked an above average contest at Ascot on his next start.

Magical Memory looks sure to progress considerably with that run under his belt, and with William Buick in the saddle is taken to get the better of Cheerio Sweetie and Roudee.

In the 5f sprint handicap (3.15) Sir Maximilian looks weighted to go close on his first start for trainer Tim Pitt.

The gelding won on his reappearance at Newmarket last year when trained by Ian Williams off a mark of 84 and then finished an excellent 2 3/4 length seventh of 19 to Kingsgate Choice in a ultra-competitive handicap at York off today’s mark of 88.

The son of Royal Applause went on to run two solid races at this venue, including when runner-up over this afternoon’s 5f trip, and looks sure to get the strong pace he needs to be seen at his best with the likes of Caspian Prince at Ballista in the line-up.

From a good draw in stall four, Sir Maximilan looks to have plenty in his favour.

In the 1m 4f handicap that closes the card (5.00), Lady Yeats looks up to defying a 5lb rise in the weights having won in good style on her handicap debut last time out.

The George Moore trained filly hinted at ability in three maiden runs last year, and was well-backed when upped in trip and scoring over 1m 2f at Redcar.