17:05 Chester

Thursday 11 May 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Virgin Atlantic Handicap

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 2m 11.67s

(5)

Banish^b,t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: H Palmer| OR: 90

10/3

Looked a difficult ride on occasions last season but benefited from blinkers and strong handling when scoring at Kempton in November. Had a stiff task in higher grade on his next two starts but ran encouragingly on his return from a break last month. Top rider again booked and boasts a 7-24 record for the stable.

Form: 64107-5

(1)

Kapstadt⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87

10/3

Winner by 7L on soft ground last season and punished harshly by the handicapper as a result. Has since contested a conditions race in France but has been mainly campaigning over hurdles. Those moves suggest that connections think this mark is too high.

Form: 2/8541-2

(2)

Caponova¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 83

3/1

All four wins have come at Haydock and he finished last on his only start here. No doubting he was impressive last time but this looks a lot harder. Stable landed this twelve months ago.

Form: 75092-1

(7)

Energia Fox⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 81

9/2

Yet to win here in five previous visits but those races were on unsuitable ground or over longer trips. Current trainer appeared to have found the key to her when dropping her to this distance last time. A 4lb rise still leaves her well handicapped based on last season's form and impossible to rule her out.

Form: 9460-51

(8)

Storm King³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 80

8/1

Winner at Southwell in March and has gone close on both starts since. All the same it is a long time since he was competitive off a mark as high as this and in this kind of company.

Form: 461321

(6)

Lord Franklin¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: E J Alston| OR: 80

22/1

Only 1lb above last winning mark but is hard to recommend having been comprehensively beaten on his last three starts.

Form: 3100-07

(3)

Outback Blue^p1,t³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: J F Egan| T: P D Evans| OR: 73

12/1

Only beat one home last time and faces a difficult task from 3lb out of the handicap. Stable have gone off the boil lately and doubtful new headgear will be enough.

Form: 45978-0

Non-Runners

(4)

Al Destoor¹⁴⁵

Weight: 9-1| Age: 7

T: J Candlish J: D Nolan

Forecasts

Caponova (3/1), Kapstadt (10/3), Banish (10/3), Al Destoor (4/1), Energia Fox (9/2), Storm King (8/1), Outback Blue (12/1), Lord Franklin (22/1)

Hugo Palmer does well on his rare visits here and relies upon BANISH in a contest which looks less competitive than the races he has contested since scoring at Kempton during the winter. A run at Doncaster last month will have him spot on for this and he is taken to account for the impressive Haydock winner Caponova and Energia Fox. The latter represents an owner who loves to have winners here and she arrives in form and on a good handicap mark.