17:20 Chester

Saturday 26 August 2017

All13:5014:3015:0515:4016:1516:4517:20

Horseradish Catering And Event Creatives Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 2m 13.11s

(3)

Inniscastle Lad^v¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 79| D

12/1

Four-time winner last year with the last of those victories coming off this mark and now makes his first start for this yard. Best when he's able to get his own way up front his last run gives him a chance here and well drawn to go forward.

Form: 618-862

(8)

Royal Shaheen^v¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Patrick Vaughan| T: A C Whillans| OR: 79

8/1

Tackling a weaker appeared to suit this one when he got off the mark for these connections over a mile at Ayr. His run in a higher grade last time out could be viewed as a good one although he looked a little awkward at the finish. Wide draw no help here.

Form: 563163

(6)

Bahama Moon¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Ben Sanderson⁽³⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 79| D

8/1

His slipping mark made him interesting for lesser handicaps than he used to contest but so far he's failed to convert those chances. Looks as though this trip will suit him but the promise he's shown of late was missing on his last start.

Form: 400437

(2)

Modernism^v1²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Finley Marsh| T: Ian Williams| OR: 74| D

8/1

His mark of 74 makes him dangerously well handicapped if the first-time visor works for him. Has run his last four races around here over various trips and was way below par last time out but very capable of taking this if bouncing back to his best.

Form: 633680

(1)

Outback Blue^t,v⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Katherine Begley⁽³⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 73

9/2

Slow starts have tended to blight his chance of late although he looks to be holding his bare form well enough. Certainly not straightforward and the last thing you want to do here is give ground away at the start.

Form: 442334

(4)

Alexander M¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Manuel Fernandes| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 79| BF| CD

6/4

Looks to be improving of late and dominated around here over this distance on his penultimate start to win off mark of 71. Didn't quite look as good when failing to carry a penalty at Beverley but still feasibly treated off this mark and a good chance.

Form: 321513

(7)

Katebird⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Josh Quinn| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 76| D

13/2

A much better surface saw her return to form last time out at Ripon making all and going with enthusiasm. That was a convincing success but her other form this year apart from her other win hasn't matched that and not certain to back up that performance.

Form: 318341

(5)

Berlusca^h¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Cameron Noble| T: D Loughnane| OR: 68| CD

25/1

Really hasn't shown much form this year at all and fared no better for a change of stable when disappointing again on the AW last time out. Others make far more appeal here given her form so far this year.

Form: 863867

Forecasts

Alexander M (6/4), Outback Blue (9/2), Katebird (13/2), Royal Shaheen (8/1), Modernism (8/1), Bahama Moon (8/1), Inniscastle Lad (12/1), Berlusca (25/1)

Bothe the Johnston horses like to go forward so it will be interesting to see which of Katebird and Alexander M are given the office here with both having shown good form of late. Innicastle Lad is another who likes to get involved off the front and all of that could lead to an overly strong pace here which would give the dangerously well-handicapped MODERNISM a chance of picking up the pieces if he returns to anything like his form. Outback Blue would also have to be considered in that scenario given that he usually blows the start and would have to come from off the pace so the stronger the better in pace terms for him.