14:45 Chester

Saturday 2 September 2017

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Raymond & Kathleen Corbett Memorial Handicap

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 1m 32.68s

(4)

Gabrial⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 107| C| D

7/1

Regular contender in Group and Listed race company and usually performs well without getting his head in front. Finished fourth in the Lincoln on his last start in a handicap and is 1lb lower. Nicely drawn and can go close.

Form: 244355

(12)

Sound Advice^t1²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 100| CD

33/1

Won over C&D off 2lb lower in May, but last three efforts have been disappointing. Connections reach for a tongue tie in a bid to spark a revival.

Form: 0-71085

(2)

Breakable⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 97| CD

4/1

Confirmed her liking for this unique track when winning a C&D handicap last month. Has run well in two subsequent handicaps and although she is 3lb higher, she has to enter calculations given her effectiveness at this course.

Form: 074152

(8)

Love Dreams⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 100

8/1

Won both starts as a juvenile and looked to be progressing when landing a Newmarket handicap in July. Two runs off his current mark have proved disappointing, but he remains quite lightly raced and stable is always to be respected at this track.

Form: 1-56130

(11)

Fingal's Cave²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 92

28/1

Consistent performer who has run well for this stable since joining from Iain Jardine's yard. Outside draw and a 5lb higher mark than for his last success suggests this is a tough assignment.

Form: 017027

(9)

Khamaary²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96| BF| D

10/1

Seemed to be on an upward curve, which culminated in victory at Lingfield two starts ago, before disappointing at Newmarket last time. Runs off the same career-high mark, but can be forgiven one below-par display and is respected.

Form: 1-12516

(3)

Intransigent¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 91| C

10/1

Performed well on the AW at the start of the year, but seemed to lose his way a little before bouncing back to form when runner-up at Kempton last time. Not out of it back on turf, but others look more enticing.

Form: 225002

(5)

War Glory²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 89| BF| D

5/1

Both of his wins have come on AW surfaces, but he has form on grass and had Khamaary behind when second at Newmarket last time. He is weighted to confirm those placings and is likely to give it his best shot.

Form: 254532

(7)

Sharp Defence¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: R Ffrench| T: J P Shanahan| OR: 94

8/1

Trainer is successful with his runners in Britain and this colt, who has won twice over here this season, may still be on the upgrade judged on his latest run at Dundalk. Step back up in trip should help and he warrants close inspection.

Form: 154102

(10)

Sir Roderic^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: J F Egan| T: B R Millman| OR: 88| D

16/1

Prolific winner in 2016, but has not been able to repeat those heroics off higher marks this season. Inching back down the weights, though, and recent Newbury third was encouraging.

Form: 058003

(1)

Wink Oliver^p,h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J Hughes| OR: 85| D

20/1

Only win on turf came at Redcar in May and he runs in this off 16lb higher. Best form is on AW surfaces, so he looks up against it off this lofty mark.

Form: 171962

(6)

Penwortham^h⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| C

8/1

Has shown a liking for this track and again ran well at the venue when fifth of 12 last time. He is 3lb lower and while there may be more progressive types in this contest, he deserves consideration.

Form: 920885

Forecasts

Breakable (4/1), War Glory (5/1), Gabrial (7/1), Penwortham (8/1), Love Dreams (8/1), Sharp Defence (8/1), Khamaary (10/1), Intransigent (10/1), Sir Roderic (16/1), Wink Oliver (20/1), Fingal's Cave (28/1), Sound Advice (33/1)

A tight handicap in which top weight Gabrial has a major chance if able to replicate his Group race performances. It is a long time since he won, however, and there are rivals who may still be a small step ahead of the handicapper. These include Irish raider Sharp Defence and Khamaary, but the ones to fight it out may be the consistent War Glory and BREAKABLE. The latter loves this course, is in the form of her life and can defy a career-high mark.