It could pay to be patient on the opening day of the Chester May Festival with the standout bet coming in the concluding Greenhous Handicap (5.05) with Richard Fahey’s filly The Feathered Nest.

The four-year-old looked a handicapper to keep onside when getting up late to score a shade cosily at Newmarket over six furlongs but struggled when pitched into a better handicap at Ascot back in October.

A run at Wolverhampton over the winter has seen the handicapper relent by a pound, meaning The Feathered Nest gets into this class four event off a mark of 85, dropping two classes from her two aforementioned turf runs.

This looks a lot easier, the extra furlong should suit and if Fahey has her fully wound up after a significant break, she’s a massive player at the Roodee under Paul Hanagan and doesn’t have a bad draw in stall seven (of 14).

Stablemate Right Touch would rate a danger if bouncing back to form but I’ll take the Dr Marwan Koukash runner to land this prize at a course her owner loves. She’s 7-1 with Hills.

Tom Dascombe has been given no help by the draw in the Boodles Diamond Handicap (3.00) with his three runners drawn six, seven and nine, and I’d rather side with Looks A Million who could prove well treated off 88 and makes plenty of appeal at 8-1 (Hills/Betfair).

Joseph Tuite’s three-year-old bay filly was a ready winner at Sandown on her second start prior to running creditably in five subsequent listed contests, including a fine third at Chantilly in October in a valuable contest.

Notably, Looks A Million likes to lead, a huge bonus if able to bag a prominent position at Chester over five furlongs, and has been handed the prime draw in stall one. Oisin Murphy rides the track well and if his mount can make a fast break, she’ll prove hard to peg back off a very workable mark.

Charlie Croasdale’s race-by-race Chester selections:

1.50: No Lippy – Ran green but still a ready winner at Doncaster on debut and should improve again from good draw in stall four.

2.25: Magic Wand – Has the right profile to make giant strides under Ryan Moore and should improve plenty from Leopardstown reappearance.

3.00: Looks A Million (nb) – see above.

3.35: Family Tree – Galileo-bred colt who has a Derby entry and can benefit from the services of Donnacha O’Brien, full of confidence after his 2000 Guineas success.

4.05: Soldier To Follow – Improvement expected if fully wound up on seasonal debut for trainer Andrew Balding who does well at Chester.

4.35: No I’m Easy – Nice performance to shed maiden tag last summer when beating Harrogate at Thirsk. Sights lowered here for handicap debut and could be on a workable mark of 82.

5.05: The Feathered Nest (nap) – see above