Hugo Palmer Saturday Blog | Chester, Sandown & Kentucky Downs
29 Aug 2025
Check out Hugo Palmer's exclusive Saturday preview with runners across Chester, Sandown, and stateside at Kentucky Downs as Cheshire Dancer features in the Grade 3 Resolute Racing Ladies Turf Stakes with Frankie Dettori booked to ride.
13:50 Sandown – Kindest Nation
Kindest Nation is a filly that enjoys soft ground and although it is quick at the moment, there is set to be rain in Esher before this meeting. The handicapper has given her a chance off this mark and she is in good order at home. If the ground falls right, I could see her outrunning her odds.
14:10 Chester – Blingy’s Sister
Blingy’s Sister made a brilliant debut at Chepstow where she got off the mark at the first attempt. This is a big step up in grade for her. We won this contest last year with It Ain’t Two who went on to be rated 100 and won a Listed race.
We have Blingy’s Sister entered in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh next month. Hopefully she can take another step forward towards that target with a nice run here.
15:00 Sandown – Grey Cuban
Grey Cuban took a bump early in his race at Goodwood and Oisin Murphy was concerned, so he rightly pulled him up. Fortunately, he did not go wrong, and Oisin just looked after him. He has it to do here off this weight at Sandown. That said, he is in great order, and he looks fantastic. It is going to require another career-best, but he is not a horse I would rule out doing that.
15:15 Chester – The Waco Kid and Hawksbill
The Waco Kid is another that needs a bit of rain. If Chester does not get it, he might not run. I hope it does arrive, as he is in the best condition he has been all season. I am very happy with him.
Hawksbill just didn’t quite get there at Haydock last time. I’ve put cheekpieces on him, and I think he prefers a turning track. He wouldn’t want the ground to be bottomless, but he is versatile. He is long overdue a victory and hopefully it will come this weekend.
15:50 Chester – Lion Of Alba
Lion Of Alba was very green on debut. The ground was then too sticky for him at Goodwood. As you can see from his entries, we think this is a nice horse. We are not thinking about getting a handicap mark with him. This is a valuable novice contest, and if the ground stays quick, I think he can run a big race.
17:00 Chester – Arabian Cobra
Arabian Cobra has been given a decent draw, which is obviously vital at Chester. He likes it around this course, and any race will help his chances. His form this season has been consistently good. He will be getting weight from all his rivals here and I should imagine he will be in the mix.
17:35 Chester – Little Saver
Little Saver is stepping up to two miles for the first time. We’ve yet to get the best out of this horse yet. I am hopeful he will stay this trip, and if he does, I think he is at a mark he can win off.
23:25 Kentucky Downs – Cheshire Dancer
We are all super excited to be heading across to Kentucky for this Grade Three contest, which is worth over $1 million in prize money. She has been given a cracking draw, and we have one of the greatest riders the sport has ever seen in Frankie Dettori. It is great to have secured the services of Frankie, as we go way back together. He has won Group Ones and Classics for me.
If you had said to me back in January that Cheshire Dancer was going to be rated 102 and running in America for $1 million, I’d have laughed at you. However, it’s not been a fluke. She has produced career-best after career-best. Since arriving in America, she has enjoyed being alongside a pony and riding on dirt at Churchill Downs. She is in great order, and all her owners are excited for this. We are not here to make up the numbers.
Hugo Palmer, Coral Racing Ambassador
13:50 Sandown – Kindest Nation
Kindest Nation is a filly that enjoys soft ground and although it is quick at the moment, there is set to be rain in Esher before this meeting. The handicapper has given her a chance off this mark and she is in good order at home. If the ground falls right, I could see her outrunning her odds.
14:10 Chester – Blingy’s Sister
Blingy’s Sister made a brilliant debut at Chepstow where she got off the mark at the first attempt. This is a big step up in grade for her. We won this contest last year with It Ain’t Two who went on to be rated 100 and won a Listed race.
We have Blingy’s Sister entered in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh next month. Hopefully she can take another step forward towards that target with a nice run here.
15:00 Sandown – Grey Cuban
Grey Cuban took a bump early in his race at Goodwood and Oisin Murphy was concerned, so he rightly pulled him up. Fortunately, he did not go wrong, and Oisin just looked after him. He has it to do here off this weight at Sandown. That said, he is in great order, and he looks fantastic. It is going to require another career-best, but he is not a horse I would rule out doing that.
15:15 Chester – The Waco Kid and Hawksbill
The Waco Kid is another that needs a bit of rain. If Chester does not get it, he might not run. I hope it does arrive, as he is in the best condition he has been all season. I am very happy with him.
Hawksbill just didn’t quite get there at Haydock last time. I’ve put cheekpieces on him, and I think he prefers a turning track. He wouldn’t want the ground to be bottomless, but he is versatile. He is long overdue a victory and hopefully it will come this weekend.
15:50 Chester – Lion Of Alba
Lion Of Alba was very green on debut. The ground was then too sticky for him at Goodwood. As you can see from his entries, we think this is a nice horse. We are not thinking about getting a handicap mark with him. This is a valuable novice contest, and if the ground stays quick, I think he can run a big race.
17:00 Chester – Arabian Cobra
Arabian Cobra has been given a decent draw, which is obviously vital at Chester. He likes it around this course, and any race will help his chances. His form this season has been consistently good. He will be getting weight from all his rivals here and I should imagine he will be in the mix.
17:35 Chester – Little Saver
Little Saver is stepping up to two miles for the first time. We’ve yet to get the best out of this horse yet. I am hopeful he will stay this trip, and if he does, I think he is at a mark he can win off.
23:25 Kentucky Downs – Cheshire Dancer
We are all super excited to be heading across to Kentucky for this Grade Three contest, which is worth over $1 million in prize money. She has been given a cracking draw, and we have one of the greatest riders the sport has ever seen in Frankie Dettori. It is great to have secured the services of Frankie, as we go way back together. He has won Group Ones and Classics for me.
If you had said to me back in January that Cheshire Dancer was going to be rated 102 and running in America for $1 million, I’d have laughed at you. However, it’s not been a fluke. She has produced career-best after career-best. Since arriving in America, she has enjoyed being alongside a pony and riding on dirt at Churchill Downs. She is in great order, and all her owners are excited for this. We are not here to make up the numbers.
Hugo Palmer, Coral Racing Ambassador
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