15:05 Chester

Saturday 27 May 2017

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

MBNA Handicap

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 1m 33.87s

(6)

Sound Advice¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: D C Costello| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 103| CD

8/1

Winner over C&D earlier in the month and won well in the end against a well-backed rival. Runner-up has failed to frank the form since and he'll need to improve again if he is to compete off a 5lb higher mark.

Form: 2900-71

(10)

Above The Rest^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: P Makin| T: T D Barron| OR: 101| C| D

16/1

Course winner here last year and any rain would aid his chance, with most of his best efforts coming with cut in the ground. Well beaten last time out though and may struggle from this draw.

Form: 3501-40

(2)

My Target⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Adam Beschizza| T: M Wigham| OR: 97| D

12/1

Won four on the bounce on the AW over the winter and interesting now returned to turf off this reduced mark. Won't mind the tight nature of the track and has a nice draw. Leading player.

Form: 1-11167

(1)

Fastnet Tempest^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: F Norton| T: W J Haggas| OR: 94| D

5/6

Excellent winner of the Victoria Cup last time out at Ascot and appears to be improving this year. Shouldn't mind the slight step up in trip and will be hard to beat from this draw, particularly with this jockey booked. Loves front-running and 5lb rise in the weights probably underestimates his ability.

Form: 1214-31

(12)

Lat Hawill^v¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 93

28/1

Two wins from 24 starts and not easy to catch right. Losing run stretches back to 2015 and he wouldn't want any rain to arrive.

Form: 70-0207

(7)

Ice Slice¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Ryan Tate| T: J M P Eustace| OR: 93| CD

6/1

In fine form last summer recording a four-timer before winning a C&D contest a little later in the year. Been hard to catch right since but ran well on return to this course earlier in the month and probably has one in him off this mark.

Form: 1404-03

(3)

Gabrial's Kaka¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91| C| D

20/1

Useful hold-up performer who scored twice last season. Back down to a fair mark now but while he's won at this course, it probably doesn't play to his strengths. Not dismissed if his claimer proves good value for his 7lb allowance.

Form: 1806-00

(11)

Viscount Barfield^h¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 91| BF| CD

11/1

C&D winner who loves it around here having won two and finished runner-up on his three outings here. This mark requires him to find more though and wide draw is far from ideal. Opposable despite the trainer form.

Form: 162-644

(9)

Fuwairt¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: J F Egan| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 90| D

12/1

Respectable third behind Flaming Spear at Newcastle over the winter and he's a very useful hold-up performer but struggling a little off this mark and probably not best suited to the nature of this course.

Form: 0423-74

(5)

Penwortham^h1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87| C

50/1

Not beaten a rival home on his last two starts but ran well here on final start of 2016. Revised mark looks stiff though and has a bit to prove now. First-time hood applied.

Form: 2781-09

Non-Runners

(8)

Hillbilly Boy¹⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 7

T: Tom Dascombe J: B A Curtis

(4)

Mount Tahan¹⁷

Weight: 8-9| Age: 5

T: K A Ryan J: K Stott

Forecasts

Fastnet Tempest (5/6), Mount Tahan (9/2), Ice Slice (6/1), Sound Advice (8/1), Viscount Barfield (11/1), Fuwairt (12/1), My Target (12/1), Hillbilly Boy (14/1), Above The Rest (16/1), Gabrial's Kaka (20/1), Lat Hawill (28/1), Penwortham (50/1)

While Fastnet Tempest will be a tough nut to crack, he's likely to face plenty of competition for the lead here and it may pay to side with MY TARGET who should sit just off the pace. He's been a revelation over the winter and he may prove to be a bit of value off a lenient looking handicap mark. Mount Tahan is consistent and should run well once again.