Chester Meeting 2019: Four Chester Vase contenders who could go on to Derby glory

THE Chester Vase is a fascinating pointer towards the Derby, with a number of horses completing the double over the years.

This season's renewal looks a real humdinger and we've assessed the chances of the top four in the betting.

Norway 100-30

Master trainer Aidan O'Brien has a fantastic record in this race and it's little wonder his latest Galileo colt is sitting pretty at the head of the market.

Although no Coolmore star at two, he was a Listed winner at Newmarket before finishing a very creditable fourth in Group 1 company on his final start.

Like all Galileo offspring at three, he's almost certain to relish this step up in trip, and in first-time cheekpieces looks likely to produce a big run.

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King Ottokar 4-1

Charlie Fellowes has been working his way up the training ranks and could have his first genuine Derby contender in King Ottokar.

A winner on debut at Newbury, he disappointed in the Vertem Futurity Trophy before getting his career firmly back on track at the Berkshire venue last time.

That was a pretty impressive performance against some decent rivals and, stepping up in trip again, he could have a big part to play.

Chester Vase final field

1. Arthur Kitt 8-1

2. Dashing Willoughby 8-1

3. Gentile Bellini 9-2

4. Kaloor 14-1

5. King Ottokar 4-1

6. Norway 100-30

7. Sir Dragonet 7-1

8. Technician 4-1

(Click here to see the best prices and place your bet)

Technician 4-1

Classy colt looked hideously unlucky in the Classic Trial at Sandown, finding himself boxed in before finishing strongly for second.

He may not have won that day but it was a very promising run and he's surely going to improve on that effort now he's had a pipe-opener.

Stepping up to an extended 1m4f will help too as he was impressive over that trip at the back-end of last season, and he definitely has appealing claims for trainer Martyn Meade.

Gentile Bellini 9-2

As always, this is almost certainly somewhat of a fact-finding mission for Aidan O'Brien as his apparent second-string hasn't done a lot of note thus far.

Beaten twice in maidens last year, he reappeared with a comprehensive victory at Cork when making all to beat 15 rivals in fine style.

He'll need to step up on that here but has an upward profile and O'Brien is a past master at getting this type of colt to improve for a trip.

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