Newsboy's ITV4 selections for Chester and Ascot plus tips from Thursday's other meetings

ZOFFEE gets the vote to record back-to-back triumphs in Ladbrokes Chester Cup (3.05) on the Roodee today.

The Hugo Palmer-saddled nine-year-old, third in this race in 2023, went two places better 12 months ago with a three-quarter-length call from Emiyn.

That victory was achieved from a British Horseracing Authority rating of 90 and my selection, seeking to become the 10th horse to capture the Chester Cup twice, is just 1lb higher for his title defence.

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A draw in stall four is kind and Palmer’s booking of rising star Joe Leavy, who claims a 3lb allowance, is another boost to the well-travelled gelding’s chances.

It’s hard to get away from THE FOXES in the Group 2 Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes (2.35).

Defeats behind Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin in December and Rebel’s Romance in in February read very well in the context of this race and Andrew Balding’s five-year-old has two wins at this level on his CV.

The CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap (1.30) looks a good opportunity for TWO TEMPTING to get off the mark for the campaign, while AMMES is taken to make it third time lucky in the Boodles Darley EBF Maiden Stakes (2.05).

At Ascot, POWER FIZZ is expected to gain compensation for a narrow defeat at Goodwood last Saturday when he reappears in the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap (1.50).

Friday's selections
CHESTER
1.30 TWO TEMPTING (NB)
2.05 AMMES

2.35 THE FOXES
3.05 ZOFFEE (NAP)
3.40 WARDA JAMILA
4.10 SPORTINGSILVERMINE
4.45 TAILORMAN

ASCOT
1.50 POWER FIZZ
2.20 RUBY’S ANGEL
2.55 EL BUDOOR
3.25 DORNEY LAKE
4.00 PRIAPOS
4.35 NIMINY PIMINY
5.10 PONCHO

MARKET RASEN
2.10 RUKAANA
2.45 ALL WELL AND GOOD
3.15 BEAT THE EDGE
3.50 GIOVANNI CHANGE
4.23 WILLASTON
5.00 ROBBERS BRIDGE

HEREFORD
4.55 CHESTNUT PETE
5.30 GOLDEN DE COEUR
6.05 MUSIQUE DE FEE
6.40 THE DREAM GOES ON
7.15 MACTAVISH
7.50 MAN OF THE SEA

NOTTINGHAM
5.15 STORMY PEARL
5.50 TARA ITI
6.25 PAKAL
7.00 GIGI BLISS
7.35 MASAI MOON
8.10 BELTANE

RIPON
5.45 RAAKEB
6.20 ZAPPATA
6.55 REIGNING PROFIT
7.30 THE GOOD BISCUIT
8.05 DUBAWI TIME
8.35 PASTORAL WAY

DOUBLE: ZOFFEE and TWO TEMPTING