14:20 Chester

Saturday 1 July 2017

All13:4514:2014:5515:2516:0016:3517:10

Beefeater Handicap

Off time: 14:22 | Winning time: 1m 2.16s

(10)

Lightscameraction^b¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: K Stott| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 97| D

40/1

Successful four times in a 27 race career including in a Listed contest on the AW at Lingfield in February last year. Well held twice on the AW in January and probably best watched from a wide draw here.

Form: 2526-80

(4)

Reflektor²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Patrick Pilley⁽⁵⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 90| D

11/2

Beaten a neck off a 2lb higher mark on soft ground over C&D in June last year. Had just four outings since and well beaten in both starts so far this season. More needed to take this.

Form: 2258-69

(11)

Orient Class¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 88| D

20/1

Victorious over 5f at Musselburgh (good-to-firm) last time out. Races prominently but may find that difficult off this 4lb higher mark and from a wide draw today.

Form: 262451

(1)

Queen In Waiting⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 92| D

7/4

Newmarket handicap winner on good-to-firm ground last time out. Made all on that occasion and well drawn on the inside if employing similar tactics off a 5lb higher mark today.

Form: 124451

(2)

Lucky Beggar²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 86| D

4/1

Six time winner in a 48 race career including over 6f at Catterick (good-to-firm) last month. Respectable effort at Epsom in a valuable contest the following day prior to finishing 2L fourth over 6f on soft ground here. Interesting runner in this.

Form: 312184

(9)

Megan Lily¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Sammy Jo Bell⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| CD

14/1

In good form this spring including when winning over C&D on soft ground last month. Failed to beat a rival home in a nine runner Listed contest at Sandown (good-to-firm) last time and has a wide draw to overcome here.

Form: 5-53219

(6)

Blithe Spirit²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Neil Farley| T: E J Alston| OR: 84| CD

16/1

Out of form so far this year most recently when beaten 10L in a valuable 5f contest at Epsom (good) a month ago. Won this contest off a 4lb higher mark in 2015 and finished runner-up off a 6lb higher mark last season. No surprise to see her return to form in this.

Form: 00-0890

(5)

Impart¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Josh Doyle⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87| D

7/1

Ripon winner over 6f on good-to-soft ground in June and ran a respectable race behind Megan Lily here three days later. Contested a valuable three-year-old handicap at York (good-to-firm) last time and worth a check in the market here.

Form: 04-6156

(7)

Stanghow¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: A Brittain| OR: 82| D

14/1

Running well of late and beaten just 2L behind Orient Class over 5f at Musselburgh (good-to-firm) last time out. Races off a 1lb lower mark today and worth a check in the market here.

Form: 2-90424

(8)

Ballesteros²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| CD

25/1

Eight time winner including over C&D in the past. Held over 6f on soft ground here off a 2lb higher mark last month and best form has come on ground softer than is forecast today.

Form: 060755

(3)

Awesome Allan^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J P Fahy| T: P D Evans| OR: 81| D

10/1

Beaten a nose over 5f on soft ground at Windsor on his penultimate outing. Beaten 4L over 6f at Haydock subsequently and returns to a more suitable trip today.

Form: 71-0727

(12)

Red Stripes¹¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁷⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 65| D

66/1

Held so far in 2017 most recently when sixth of 11 at Southwell in early March. All four previous wins have come on the AW and looks up against it from a wide draw and out of the handicap here.

Form: 4-66686

Forecasts

Queen In Waiting (7/4), Lucky Beggar (4/1), Reflektor (11/2), Impart (7/1), Awesome Allan (10/1), Stanghow (14/1), Megan Lily (14/1), Blithe Spirit (16/1), Orient Class (20/1), Ballesteros (25/1), Lightscameraction (40/1), Red Stripes (66/1)

BLITHE SPIRIT has run well in this race in the past winning off a higher mark in 2015 and finishing runner-up last season. The selections mark is coming down as a result of some moderate efforts this season but she represents a shrewd yard here and can get the better of last time out winner Queen In Waiting who looks likely to try and make all today. Of the remainder Lucky Beggar ran a fair race here last time out over 6f and can claim third today.