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CHESTER 1.30, LILY AGNES CONDITIONS STAKES, 5F 15YD<\/strong><\/p>\n The traditional fast-and-furious opening to Chester\u2019s May meeting, although the initial entry of a dozen runners has been whittled down to eight by non-runners, including three that were initially drawn eight or higher. The hugely significant stall one, meanwhile, went to Karl Burke\u2019s unbeaten Ali Shuffle, <\/strong>who would probably have started favourite in any case as a result of her perfect two-from-two record, but is now odds-on to make the most of her luck in the draw. She is also top on Timeform ratings and has the best timefigure in the race too, so unless she blows the start, she is likely to be very difficult to beat. Miss Piggle, <\/strong>from Hugo Palmer\u2019s local yard, was the 7-2 second favourite this morning but she is out to 5-1 now as the money comes for Ali Shuffle and there will be some seriously burned fingers among the backers if she fails to oblige.<\/p>\n SELECTION: ALI SHUFFLE.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Thady Gosden<\/strong> has been speaking to the Nick Luck Daily Podcast about the decision to sack Kieran Shoemark as the stable\u2019s No.1 jockey and demote him to the pool of riders from which the stable will pick \u201cthe best available\u201d in future.<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally since Saturday, myself and John have gone through things together and decided the best policy going forward is to adopt a best available rider strategy,\u201d Gosden said.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, it is still very early in the season and there is plenty of time still to go, but we believe that is the best way for the stable to go, to have the best available rider, alongside of course a different number of retained riders pre-existing in the yard.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble \u2026 and Shoemark sacked by Gosdens<\/p>\n Good morning from the Roodee<\/strong>, where one of Britain\u2019s most popular and historic Flat tracks will stage two significant Classic trials later today \u2013 the Chester Vase<\/strong> and Chester Oaks<\/strong> \u2013 but the early talk is all about the news that Kieran Shoemark has been sacked from his role as No 1 jockey to John & Thady Gosden\u2019s<\/strong> powerful Newmarket stable, just four days after steering Field Of Gold, the favourite, into a fast-finishing second place in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket<\/a>.<\/p>\n John Gosden, who was hoping to complete the full set of English Classics on Saturday by winning the 2,000 Guineas for the first time, seemed fairly philosophical in the immediate aftermath.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were sitting some way back and quite frankly, the winner has kicked and gone and we have run out of racetrack,\u201d he said. \u201cIn another probably 25 yards the race would have been ours. You know when this track gets firm like this, it rides slick and with a bit of cross tailwind, they can just get away from you. It just got away from us today I am afraid, as we came into the Dip. He was clawing the ground back but it was too late.\u201d<\/p>\n On further reflection, though, the trainer seems to have decided that enough blame attaches to Shoemark to merit a change of stable jockey (although, as the trainer has often pointed out too, several owners in the yard already have retained riders of their own).<\/p>\n Ruling Court ridden by William Buick (white cap) on their way to winning the Betfred 2,000 Guineas with Kieran Shoemark on Field Of Gold (right) in second. Photograph: Joe Giddens\/PA<\/p>\n