CANNOCK CHASE can atone for last season's near miss in the Betway Huxley Stakes by claiming Chester gold.

Sir Michael Stoute's Group One-winning entire was denied by just half a length 12 months ago as Maverick Wave made a late move for glory.

Yet that still went down as a pretty good effort as the five-year-old did not appreciate running in such testing ground.

And with the prospect of a prolonged drying spell on the Roodee, conditions should be a fair bit more suitable for Cannock Chase today.

Stoute's representative is the class act in the field – he won the Canadian International last autumn, after all – and although he must give away weight to all-comers, the son of Lemon Drop Kid has the stature to handle that burden.

Even in spite of having won that Grade One at Woodbine, and also a Listed race at Newmarket, it is interesting that Stoute felt he never really had Cannock Chase on-song all summer. Granted a steadier passage, he could be in for a very big year.

Ryan Moore has the ride – and he is also in the saddle for the central focus on the card directed towards US ARMY RANGER, a major player for the Investec Derby at Epsom and one of six declared for the MBNA Chester Vase.

Ballydoyle's inmate was the plunge horse of the close season after his Epsom odds contracted with sudden alacrity.

The Galileo colt admittedly won really well on his debut at the Curragh, and it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the one-off demands of Chester, but it would probably be folly to steam into US Army Ranger until we have seen more of him.

Be that as it may, Aidan O'Brien has won six of the last nine renewals of the Vase – most notably with Epsom hero Ruler Of The World in 2013, who struck in the same Curragh maiden first time out, so it is clearly a race of some substance for the wise men of Coolmore.

Perhaps the best bet at the meeting is in the opening race, the Gateley Plc Original Legal Thinking Handicap, with WHAT ABOUT CARLO a strong fancy as today's nap selection.

The five-year-old gelding has probably never quite fulfilled the abundant promise of his salad days but he is still a very useful operator at the right level.

Winner of two big pots late last summer, trainer Eve Johnson Houghton must have been well chuffed by What About Carlo's return to the fray when he stayed on strongly for third in an Epsom handicap devoid of early pace.

Versatile in terms of ground and just 4lb higher than when he won so well at Newbury last September, the gelded son of Creachadoir should be available at a very nice price.

It is an almost incredulous situation to have four jumps fixtures just as the Flat begins in earnest but STARCHITECT should nonetheless go well at Newton Abbot.

David Pipe's five-year-old has only raced three times this season but very nearly won the Betfair Hurdle on his return when a last-flight error cost him all chance.

The five-year-old then finished an honourable fifth in the County Hurdle before he made another gaffe at Aintree, finishing third in a Grade Three over two and a half miles.

Starchitect obviously needs to cut out the mistakes but the slightly longer trip of the attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle should suit him very nicely these days – even though he carries plenty of weight.

Pipe can nail an across-the-card double via Kempton runner-up WILLEM, who looks a warm order for the opening Racing Together "Confined" Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton.

SNOWED IN can go well in the Farries Kirk & McVean Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle, with CLUBS ARE TRUMPS a likely sort in the @uttoxetertwit Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter.