20:15 Chester

Friday 30 June 2017

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

Close Brothers Asset Finance Handicap

Off time: 20:18 | Winning time: 1m 28.37s

(7)

Heir To A Throne³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85| C

9/1

Rather undone by racing closer to the pace than ideal last time and hampered when held in the final furlong. Just 2lb above his last winning mark and should run well here if given a more conservative ride.

Form: 371-207

(12)

Majestic Moon⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 85| D

20/1

Shaping well on his last two starts taking the runner-up slot on both occasions at Goodwood and Lingfield. Usually like to lead but may find that rather hard from his outside draw which makes life hard for him here.

Form: 770522

(6)

Grand Inquisitor⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: David Probert| T: Ian Williams| OR: 84| D

7/1

Not won since 2015 when with Sir Michael Stoute and not made much of an impression for this yard in three runs so far. He's slipping in the weights and looks potentially well treated if he can build on his Newbury run last time but that's no given.

Form: 977-906

(8)

Monteverdi^b¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 84| D

20/1

Looks well below his best at present and the first-time blinkers that he wore last time out brought about only minimal "improvement". He actually travelled well to a point at Goodwood last time and his mark is slipping to a point where he looks a well-handicapped horse if he could find some form.

Form: 3060-78

(9)

Khelman²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Sammy Jo Bell⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| BF| CD

16/1

C&D winner and sometimes spoils his chance with being slow away and that won't help from a wide draw here. His win at Doncaster on his penultimate start was his first for over a year (dropped in weights and back on softer ground) but running over 6f here last time was never going to suit him and he's better judged on his Town Moor form.

Form: 97-9718

(4)

Explain^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 80

5/2

A low draw (stall 4) won't be much use to him as a hold-up performer and he'll need some luck in-running here to come from off the pace. Took advantage of a falling mark at Ripon over 6f and he still looks on a competitive mark but 7f trip may stretch him.

Form: 0-56102

(10)

Eqleem²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: P D Evans| OR: 79

25/1

Wide draw makes things difficult but he did bounce back to form from out of the blue last time dropped 5lb and on his AW debut. Previous form on turf looks patchy though and question marks as to whether he can back that last run up.

Form: 756-002

(11)

British Embassy^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 79

33/1

Three-time winner last year over mile trips off marks at up to 77 with his last win coming at Bath after a fairly busy period (held form well). Seen to good effect last time (first-time cheekpieces) under a very aggressive ride and he may try similar tactics here although that could be rather difficult from a wide berth.

Form: 18-6602

(3)

Gabrial The Tiger²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78| CD

4/1

C&D winner with his last two wins coming here off marks of 75 and 80 and has always looked at his best around here under forcing rides. Probably ran better than his final placing on his last start here but ran poorly last time at Catterick and will be better back here off a mark of 78 and well drawn to go forward from stall 3.

Form: 06-0088

(1)

Cosmic Ray^h⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: J L Eyre| OR: 72

11/4

Could not have been in better form this year having racked up four wins already this year all over further and still looked in great form at Ripon last time scoring off 72. Now back in trip and up 6lb (never won off a mark this high) but should enjoy the pace of this race and ridden by one of the best pilots around this unique circuit.

Form: 141141

Non-Runners

(2)

God Willing¹⁴

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: D Carroll J: G C O'Neill

(5)

Tavener¹³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: D C Griffiths J: R Ffrench

Forecasts

Explain (5/2), Cosmic Ray (11/4), Gabrial The Tiger (4/1), Grand Inquisitor (7/1), Tavener (8/1), Heir To A Throne (9/1), Khelman (16/1), Monteverdi (20/1), Majestic Moon (20/1), God Willing (20/1), Eqleem (25/1), British Embassy (33/1)

Not an easy handicap to unravel and as with all big-field handicaps around this tight circuit luck in running will play a big part. Majestic Moon has been in good form of late without winning but he may find it hard getting to the front from a wide draw and he may find competition for the lead from the likes of British Embassy and last year’s winner GABRIAL THE TIGER who could be well placed here to repeat his win. Cosmic Ray could not have been in better this season but he does face a stiff task off this mark and Explain along with Khelman look to be the dangers with God Willing worth keeping an eye on in this market off this mark.