13:30 Chester

Saturday 16 September 2017

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

theMBNAteam Handicap

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 1m 5.83s

(11)

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.

Form: 890720

(12)

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.

Form: 603530-

(2)

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.

Form: 413117

(3)

Desert Ace^p²⁴

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.

Form: 196222

(4)

Captain Lars^v¹¹

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.

Form: 504256

(7)

Impart^p1¹⁴

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.

Form: 686675

(5)

Landing Night^p,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.

Form: 432921

(6)

Come On Dave^v²¹

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.

Form: 361127

(1)

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.

Form: 453122

(8)

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.

Form: 569032

(9)

Casterbridge^p1³⁷

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.

Form: 154855

Non-Runners

(10)

Silvanus¹²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 12

T: P T Midgley J: Non Runner

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)

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.