Frankie Dettori, riding at the top of his form this season, can triumph in the big race tomorrow on day two of the Chester Festival.

He rides Privy Seal in the MNBA Europe Bank Chester Vase and I fancy Dettori to take the honours in this Group 3 contest, just as he did 12 months ago on Dutch Gold.

Privy Seal, a Kempton winner on his seasonal reappearance, was subsequently put in his place by African Dream at Sandown but he deserves the chance to atone for that defeat.

Held up in last place that day, he was always playing catch-up to the winner, who gained first run on him when kicking into the lead more than a furlong from home and maintained his advantage to score by more than three lengths.

Privy Seal should relish tomorrow's extra two furlongs and he is napped to carry too many guns for Newbury winner Graham Island.

Geoff Wragg, trainer of Graham Island, can enjoy better luck in the opening Victor Chandler Handicap with Lochbuie.

A winner at Ripon last time out, Lochbuie showed a fighting spirit that day and looks the type to improve further. It would not surprise me to see him follow-up. John Egan again takes the mount.

The Freephone Stanleybet Handicap over an extended seven furlongs offers Appalachian Trail the opportunity to make up for his recent defeat at Sandown.

Ian Semple's charge looked all over the winner that day when striking the front more than a furlong out, but he was worn down near the finish by Barathea Dreams, who took the spoils by a neck.

Tomorrow's slightly shorter distance should suit Apapalachian Trail, who will again be partnered by Robert Winston.

Kevin Ryan has good prospects of figuring on the Chester scoresheet, courtesy of Petrula in the Walker Smith Way Solicitors Rated Handicap.

The gelding produced a shock 66-1 victory in the corresponding race 12 months ago and, although he will not start at anything like such generous odds this time, he could well produce an encore.

Fresh from hurdling, Petrula will lack nothing in fitness and he is fancied to make a winning return to the Flat.

Wetherby stage an evening meeting tomorrow, and well worth watching out for is Cyborg de Sou in the Guy Salmon Land Rover Leeds Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Hurdle.

Geoff Harker's gelding came good in pleasing style at Perth a fortnight ago and, now that he has got his head in front, he could well follow-up.

In the Rocom Novices' Handicap Chase, Just Sooty could provide a clean sweep for Nicky Richards and Tony Dobbin.

A twelve lengths winner at Sedgefield last month, Just Sooty is open to further improvement over fences and is fancied to oblige again in this modest handicap.

Friday's Flat race meeting at Nottingham hangs in the balance after the track called an inspection for tomorrow afternoon.

Nottingham racecourse spokesman Nick Patton said: "We're soft, heavy in places and waterlogged in places. We'll have an inspection tomorrow at 4.00pm.

"We're forecast a few showers and thunderstorms and if we get them we will be in trouble, but if we don't we'll be alright and the sun's out there at the moment."

Thursday's tips:

Chester

1.55 Lochbuie, 2.25 Appalachian Trail, 2.55 Privy Seal (Nap), 3.30 Bandari, 4.05 Petrula, 4.40 Sydney Star.

Wetherby

5.35 The Butterwick Kid, 6.10 Flight Command, 6.40 Just Sooty, 7.10 Sir Night, 7.40 Bob's Buster, 8.15 Cyborg de Sou.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Folkestone, Ludlow and Southwell.

Updated: 12:34 Wednesday, May 05, 2004