19:45 Chester

Friday 30 June 2017

All18:1018:4019:1019:4520:1520:50

Eurogold Claiming Stakes

Off time: 19:47 | Winning time: 1m 36.1s

(7)

Dubai's Secret¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: D H Brown| OR: 82| D

12/1

Twice a winner in handicaps last year he's run well below form on his last two starts and looks to have something to prove on form and at the weights.

Form: 412-600

(2)

Outer Space⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 86

13/2

Last two wins have come over 7f but his last two runs have come over 6f (travelled well once). Of interest back over 7f and dropped into this grade from a decent draw.

Form: 225797

(11)

Gabrial's Kaka²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: F Norton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 86| C| D

6/1

Actually won here on his debut and run here 13 times since without further success but has run some fair races around here. Been quiet so far this season but his last two runs have hinted at a revival and just ran a bit too free on soft ground last time. Hard to write off in this grade around a track that he runs well although could be better drawn.

Form: 06-0087

(10)

Michele Strogoff^b⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Josh Doyle⁽³⁾| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 87

9/1

First couple of runs this year hinted that she may well have been able to win a handicap but hasn't built on those two runs. The outside draw here doesn't help here and he's probably best watched here.

Form: 59-5288

(8)

Al Khan⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁵⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 90

8/1

In good form at the end of last year when winning an AW claimer and handicap off a mark of 85. Looks rather high in the handicap now and no surprise to see him back in this company where he has more chance.

Form: 1-83650

(5)

Dream Walker^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 95| D

11/4

His handicap form last year was useful with three wins coming his way and he looked to have retained all his ability when returning on the AW in March. Has run poorly all three starts since though albeit he had a very tough task last time out and this company will be far more acceptable.

Form: 30-8008

(3)

Strong Steps^b²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Connor Beasley| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 84| D

5/2

Has never really taken off for this yard and ran poor race at Carlisle recently doing far too much in front and coming home well beaten. Well placed to repeat those tactics here although overall others have stronger claims.

Form: 009250

(6)

Harry Holland¹³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: S A Gray| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 64| D

66/1

Makes his first start for this yard having taken advantage of a drop in grade to win from the front at Lingfield when with Tom Dascombe. Not been in the same form since and now makes a return to turf in a race where he has a tough task at the weights.

Form: 799-190

(12)

Alpha Tauri⁵³

Age: 11| Weight: 8-10| J: Aled Beech⁽⁷⁾| T: C Smith| OR: 38| D

33/1

Very rarely seen away from Southwell these days where he has been in good form this year and recently gained his 11th win there. Yet to win anywhere else though and his turf rating bares no relation to his turf one and he faces a very tough test at the weights.

Form: 3-51231

(9)

Favourite Treat^e/s⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: A Mullen| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 70| D

20/1

Last win came at Ayr in June of last year but he's shown up well in his last two runs in handicaps although his finishing effort was a little disappointing at Doncaster on his penultimate start. Has a bit to do at the weights here and will need luck with his run style but not totally written off.

Form: 59-9033

(1)

Tamarin^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁷⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 35

125/1

Still a maiden and having started at triple figure odds in three of her last four starts and only rated 35 it would be a big shock if she were to even manage a place here let alone a win.

Form: 9-09096

Non-Runners

(4)

Lat Hawill⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: K Dalgleish J: Rowan Scott

Forecasts

Strong Steps (5/2), Dream Walker (11/4), Gabrial's Kaka (6/1), Outer Space (13/2), Al Khan (8/1), Lat Hawill (8/1), Michele Strogoff (9/1), Dubai's Secret (12/1), Favourite Treat (20/1), Alpha Tauri (33/1), Harry Holland (66/1), Tamarin (125/1)

Quite a few of these are struggling off their marks in handicaps hence running them here in a claimer appears to be a good move. Two of the likely leading protagonists in Michele Strogoff and Gabrial’s Kaka are drawn rather wide and that tempers enthusiasm for their chances. Al Khan is a solid sort in this grade while Outer Space is of interest back over 7f and a few may be keen to give Strong Steps one last chance as he drops in grade. This does look a good chance though for DREAM WALKER to regain the winning thread despite running poorly this year this is a huge drop in class from his last run and he is very well-in at the weights here.