16:55 Chester

Saturday 10 June 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Whitley Neill Gin Handicap

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 1m 17.55s

(6)

Lucky Beggar⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: F Norton| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 87| D

9/2

Won his first race since 2014 at Wetherby earlier this year and won again two starts later at Catterick. Things didn't fall right for him at Epsom last time out but still very well-handicapped on old form and may have found that run coming too soon last time. Every chance he could run well again with this jockey booked and goes in any ground.

Form: 431218

(11)

Powerallied⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85| CD

16/1

Two of his three wins have come around here but still 2lb higher than his last winning mark and this draw is far from ideal; others preferred.

Form: 31200-0

(2)

Red Tycoon²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: K Shoemark⁽³⁾| T: K O Cunningham-Brown| OR: 84| D

7/2

Left David Barron for 13,000 gns in October 2016 and had been a little disappointing for his new yard up until a find effort at Ascot last time, finishing second of 20. Up 4lb for that and best efforts have come on fast ground so does have some questions to answer but possible he can keep on progressing for this yard.

Form: 150-652

(9)

Monumental Man^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: William Carson| T: M J Attwater| OR: 84| D

33/1

Has won over 6f but that came in a claimer and looks more effective over 5f. Never won off a mark quite this high and wide draw isn't ideal so there's seemingly enough negatives to look elsewhere this time around.

Form: 264198

(5)

Khelman²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| C| D

7/2

Bounced right back to form at Doncaster last time after a couple of below-par runs this season. That win came in heavy ground but has wins on a quicker surface too and has won at this course. Should go well off a reasonable mark.

Form: 397-971

(3)

Ballesteros⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: D Nolan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| CD

7/1

Had a disappointing winter on the AW but he was running well on turf at the back end of last year and he's back below his last winning mark. Drawn well here and has two course wins to his name (one over C&D); should be thereabouts.

Form: 306075

(1)

Dragon King^h¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: I Jardine| OR: 81| D

9/1

Largely out of form in recent times and not won since 2015. Shown nothing in two starts for his new yard and plenty to prove at present.

Form: 0020-09

(7)

Russian Realm¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P T Midgley| OR: 81

8/1

Not won for over a year now and drop down to this trip doesn't look in his favour, particularly around here. Well-handicapped on old form but likely to struggle in this contest.

Form: 08-0650

(8)

Gramercy^p⁶¹

Age: 10| Weight: 8-13| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams| OR: 77| BF| C| D

25/1

Last win came around here in 2015 but has had an interrupted career since and not in much form at Redcar when last seen. Having his first start since rejoining an old yard now and interesting to see what the market makes of him.

Form: 3-47934

(4)

Tavener^p³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: R Ffrench| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 77| D

10/1

Looks a little better over further than this and 7lb above his last winning mark. Struggling recently and looks in need of some relief from the assessor.

Form: 312555

(12)

Echo Of Lightning²⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Martin Lane| T: B Ellison| OR: 77| C

33/1

All wins have come over 7f or further than this and widest draw not ideal here; likely to need this run after a significant absence.

Form: 103826-

Non-Runners

(10)

Song Of Shadows¹⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: M Wigham J: D Nolan

Forecasts

Red Tycoon (7/2), Khelman (7/2), Lucky Beggar (9/2), Ballesteros (7/1), Russian Realm (8/1), Dragon King (9/1), Tavener (10/1), Song Of Shadows (12/1), Powerallied (16/1), Gramercy (25/1), Echo Of Lightning (33/1), Monumental Man (33/1)

Richard Fahey has a pair of interesting runners in this contest in Khelman and Ballesteros with the former bouncing back to form last time and the latter set to appreciate the return to turf but it's LUCKY BEGGAR who makes most appeal. The seven-year-old gets the services of Franny Norton here and the gelding is very well-handicapped on old form. He may have found his run coming too soon last time but he's likely to go well off top-weight.