13:30 Chester

Saturday 16 September 2017

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

theMBNAteam Handicap

  • 3YO plus  |   Class 4  |   5f 15y  |   Heavy  |   11 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 13:31  |   Winning time: 1m 5.83s
The word Sky in blue and Bet in white with a red background.
The word Betfair in black.
The words Paddy Power in green.
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
1
(11)
Horse silk
Blithe Spirit14
Age: 6|  Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez(5)| T: E J Alston| OR:  80| CD
16/1
Regular visitor here with five wins, including off much higher marks in the past. A runner-up when well drawn here on her penultimate start but laboured from a poor draw last time and could easily suffer the same fate.
2
(12)
Horse silk
Bondi Beach Boy310
Age: 8|  Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: A Brittain| OR:  78| CD
50/1
Good strike-rate with 12 wins and struck from a low draw on only previous visit here last summer (4lb higher mark). Hard to envisage a repeat from stall 12 though on belated seasonal reappearance for a new yard.
3
(2)
Horse silk
Show Palace24
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: J Candlish| OR:  78| BF| D
11/4
Progressive mud-lover with three wins this summer, though suggestions that the handicapper may finally have gained his measure at Carlisle last time. Still, dangerous to dismiss from a low draw with conditions in his favour.
4
(3)
Horse silk
Desert Acep24
Age: 6|  Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: I Jardine| OR:  78| D
9/2
Goes well on soft ground as he proved when winning at Hamilton in June and has done little wrong in defeat of late, just beaten on the nod at Carlisle last time. Well positioned to attack from the front here and looks a player.
5
(4)
Horse silk
Captain Larsv11
Age: 8|  Weight: 9-5| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR:  78| D
8/1
Without a turf win since 2014, though did go close over 6f on soft ground at Haydock a few runs back. Below that form twice since however and may just find things happening too quickly on first visit here.
6
(7)
Horse silk
Impartp114
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-5| J: Josh Doyle(3)| T: D O'Meara| OR:  79| BF| D
25/1
One-time Dermot Weld inmate who hasn't kicked on as seemed likely when winning for this yard over 6f at Ripon in June. Again only mid-division over C&D last time but tumbling mark and introduction of cheekpieces make him interesting.
7
(5)
Horse silk
Landing Nightp,t8
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: R Menzies| OR:  77| D
10/1
Tends to save his best for Catterick but took advantage of a falling mark when coming with a late rattle to score over 5f at Musselburgh (good to firm) last time out. Easier ground and a 6lb rise to contend with now, however.
8
(6)
Horse silk
Come On Davev21
Age: 8|  Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J Butler| OR:  77| D
16/1
In great form earlier this summer with wins at Brighton and Lingfield on much quicker ground but has shot up in the weights as a result and was well-held over C&D last time. Much more needed now.
10
(1)
Horse silk
Noah Amor8
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-1| J: P Makin| T: D O'Meara| OR:  74| BF| D
11/2
A revelation for this yard, winning three sellers early on and a Beverley handicap before two narrow defeats earlier this month. Has to be considered from a plum draw, though remains unproven on ground this soft.
11
(8)
Horse silk
Ballesteros21
Age: 8|  Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR:  74| BF| CD
13/2
Dual C&D winner who scored twice off higher marks last back-end and, though below par in the main this term, finished a good second here last time. Not as well drawn now (stall 1 latest) but handles soft ground and hard to rule out.
12
(9)
Horse silk
Casterbridgep137
Age: 5|  Weight: 8-11| J: Neil Farley| T: E J Alston| OR:  70| D
25/1
It took a career-low mark to end a long losing run at Leicester back in May over 5f and has struggled to recapture that form since. Won't mind the easy surface but doesn't look well enough drawn to prosper in first-time cheekpieces.

Non-Runners

9
(10)
Horse silk
Silvanus12
Weight: 9-4|  Age: 12
T: P T Midgley  J: Non Runner
NR

Forecasts

Show Palace (11/4), Desert Ace (9/2), Noah Amor (11/2), Ballesteros (13/2), Captain Lars (8/1), Landing Night (10/1), Silvanus (14/1), Come On Dave (16/1), Blithe Spirit (16/1), Casterbridge (25/1), Impart (25/1), Bondi Beach Boy (50/1)

Verdict

Competitive stuff but, with testing conditions and a low draw in his favour, the consistent DESERT ACE has a great chance to regain the winning thread after a series of narrow defeats. Fellow mud-lover Show Palace also has plenty going for him and is unlikely to be far away whilst Ballesteros is capable of getting in the mix despite a less than ideal draw.
  1. Desert Ace
  2. Show Palace
  3. Ballesteros

Previous Winners

2016
I'll Be Good
Weight: 9-3  |Age: 7
11/1

Prize Money

1st: £7,470.002nd: £2,237.003rd: £1,118.004th: £559.005th: £280.006th: £140.00

MOST READ RACING

Follow & Track
Image of a horse race faded in a gold gradientYour favourite horses, jockeys and trainers with My Stable
Log in
Discover Sporting Life Plus benefitsWhite Chevron
Sporting Life Plus Logo

RACING TIPS

Next Off