Masham Star to Shine after Eyecatching Chester Run

I’m not a massive fan of betting at Chester as it offers a very unique test with huge emphasis on the draw. However, what I am a fan of is watching and studying the races from there, and using those to give me a guide on what I should be backing next time out. Masham Star was a big eyecatcher at Chester last time out for me, coming from a very wide draw and having to use a lot of energy to get into a good position before being caught close home. He doesn’t have the best draw here today, but Epsom is nothing like Chester in terms of the draw, and all of that points to a big run from the Mark Johnston trained horse on Friday.

He’s also very interesting from a handicap point of view. He has placed off 93 in three of his last four runs, and gets to run off that mark again today although he is due to go up to 94 after today, more if he goes well here. That shows he is there and on a mark he can go close off, and based on what he has done in the past he looks incredibly well handicapped.

You’ve only got to go back two months to March and this horse finished within three lengths of the winner off the much higher mark of 103. A reproduction of that run but from this mark would see him win this on the bridle.

We’ve got 14 runners and a really wide open feel about this race but that doesn’t stop me from fancying Masham Star. He looks as though his time is just around the corner, and I am banking on him to put up another good run here before his small rise in the handicap.