17:05 Chester

Friday 12 May 2017

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

DW Sports Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 2m 40.07s

(4)

Croquembouche¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Aaron Jones| T: E De Giles| OR: 85

8/1

Losing run now standing at 18 but has been unlucky on occasions. Dangerous if he's allowed an early lead but never won over this far and any rain wouldn't be in his favour. Others preferred given his recent patchy profile.

Form: 52620-2

(10)

Gabrial's Star^b²⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Adam J McNamara| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84

17/2

Habitual slow-starter with just one win in the last two-and-a-half years. Did win 2014's renewal of this contest but he's hard to make a case for, particularly with this draw.

Form: 30508-8

(5)

Subcontinent¹⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 84

10/1

Rare Flat runner for this yard and on a fair mark returned to this sphere. Probably wouldn't want the ground to get too soft but should be fit enough after a recent spin over hurdles and jockey's 5lb claim is worth plenty in the context of this race.

Form: 116237/

(3)

Archippos⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: David Egan⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 83

4/1

Excellent winner at Doncaster on his return to action and 6lb rise looks fair, especially with a talented claimer booked who can take off 5lb. Should go well with a nice draw to play with and less exposed than most in here.

Form: 3189-1

(8)

Modernism^p⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80

10/1

More effective on the AW than he is on turf but mark doesn't reflect that and wide draw is a little off-putting. Apprentice jockey is useful and not dismissed for a yard that has hit form in recent weeks.

Form: 60-8163

(6)

Tobacco Road^h³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: D Pipe| OR: 80

28/1

Not won for over three years now but he would be of interest if some rain comes having proven effective on soft ground. Didn't show much on most recent Flat start but may have needed that and could be seen in a better light here.

Form: 49022/7

(2)

Michael's Mount^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 79

7/1

Very much a hit and miss performer but capable of running well when he settles. Best efforts have come on tight tracks and shouldn't be ruled out for a trainer who does well here and a talented apprentice booked.

Form: 23271-7

(7)

Nabhan²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 78

25/1

Yet to score in this sphere and hasn't placed in five previous starts at thsis track. Hard to fancy off the back of his most recent Flat run.

Form: 575958-

(11)

St Mary's²²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: William Cox⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 78

14/1

One win from seven starts but likely to struggle from this draw and may need this run so best watched this time around.

Form: 314524-

(1)

Warp Factor³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: J P Shanahan| OR: 78

9/4

Only recorded one win from 18 starts, 13 of those coming on the Flat. Others look to have more scope from a handicapping perspective but trainer's runners have been going well here this week and any market support should be noted.

Form: 77-7532

Non-Runners

(12)

Top of The Glas²⁰

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: B Ellison J: Megan Nicholls

(9)

Alcatraz²⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: George Baker J: H Crouch

Forecasts

Warp Factor (9/4), Archippos (4/1), Michael's Mount (7/1), Croquembouche (8/1), Gabrial's Star (17/2), Modernism (10/1), Subcontinent (10/1), Top of The Glas (10/1), Alcatraz (12/1), St Mary's (14/1), Nabhan (25/1), Tobacco Road (28/1)

Much depends on whether MICHAEL'S MOUNT is on a going day, but when he settles in his races, he shows he has ability and would be capable of winning this if up to his best. Subcontinent looks like he is on a fair mark returned to this sphere and there could be more to come from Archippos who is on a fair mark.