16:30 Chester

Saturday 2 September 2017

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

Stella Artois Handicap

Off time: 16:34 | Winning time: 1m 1.55s

(12)

Merry Banter²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 83| D

14/1

Three-times winner over 5f on turf, but is without a success since last September. Handicapper is starting to relent, but her widest draw is much more of a problem.

Form: 528285

(4)

Boundsy³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| C

3/1

Won over 6f at this track two starts ago and went close to following up at Newcastle last time. Has yet to win over the minimum trip and career-high mark is another factor he has to overcome.

Form: 472212

(5)

Blitz^t1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: David Probert| T: C G Cox| OR: 82| D

9/1

Won a five-runner 5f handicap at Windsor in June, but has been well held in two subsequent runs off higher marks. Still 2lb above her last winning mark and is tongue-tied for the first time as connections seek to eke out some improvement.

Form: 246154

(3)

Impart⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81| D

3/1

Not much encouragement to be gleaned from recent efforts, but has dropped to a mark 2lb lower than when successful over 6f at Ripon in June. Has won over this trip, so worthy of consideration given his revised rating and decent draw.

Form: 568667

(7)

Yorkshiredebut^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Neil Farley| T: P T Midgley| OR: 77| D

20/1

Likes to be up there as she showed when making all to easily win a four-runner handicap at Catterick in July. Well held on her last two starts, though, and will not get it all her own way up front.

Form: 536160

(1)

Kamra^p,t²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: M Herrington| OR: 77| D

4/1

Won a 5f maiden as a juvenile when trained by Jeremy Noseda, but has yet to win in handicap company. Handicap mark has hone back up and he will do well to be winning this despite his ideal draw.

Form: 436427

(10)

Peachey Carnehan^v¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 72| D

33/1

Showed much improved form to win races either side of an unlucky second at Haydock. Went up 13lb for the second of those successes and although 7lb lower this time, he has to prove he is up to the task from a difficult draw.

Form: 541215

(2)

Liberatum¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 70| D

9/2

Won for the first time in nine starts at Windsor last time and has only a 4lb rise to cope with. Good draw will help and he is one of the more likely contenders.

Form: 0-32391

(11)

Chickenfortea²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: D Fentiman| T: E J Alston| OR: 66

33/1

Got off the mark over 6f at Catterick in July and has been held off this mark on two subsequent outings. Likes to be up there so drop in trip may not be a bad thing.

Form: 037139

(6)

Blue Rocks^b1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: R Ffrench| T: L Williamson| OR: 55| D

50/1

Only win so far came on the AW and latest effort at Chepstow was not particularly encouraging. First-time blinkers will need to have a positive effect if he is to be involved in the finish.

Form: 766537

Non-Runners

(9)

Jack Flash⁵⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: J L Eyre J: Jason Hart

(8)

Bellevarde¹⁶

Weight: 8-4| Age: 3

T: R J Price J: Ryan Powell

Forecasts

Boundsy (3/1), Impart (3/1), Kamra (4/1), Liberatum (9/2), Bellevarde (6/1), Jack Flash (7/1), Blitz (9/1), Merry Banter (14/1), Yorkshiredebut (20/1), Peachey Carnehan (33/1), Chickenfortea (33/1), Blue Rocks (50/1)

Not many of these look especially well handicapped, so it may pay to keep it simple and concentrate on those with the best draw. Liberatum looks sure to go well off only 4lb higher than for his success last time, while Boundsy has to be in the mix if effective back at 5f. However, this could be the day that IMPART bounces back to form. He is 2lb lower than when winning earlier in the season and should get the run of the race from stall three. Blue Rocks would have a squeak if first-time blinkers work their magic.