13:50 Chester

Thursday 10 May 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Gateley PLC Handicap

Off time: 13:53 | Winning time: 1m 1.45s

(9)

El Astronaute¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 98| CD

6/1

Won this last year, highly effective when allowed to dictate terms from the front. Propensity to start fast a positive here and ran well on seasonal return at Pontefract last time out but must overcome a tricky draw from a career-high mark.

Form: 01225-2

(8)

Sir Maximilian^v1⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 97| CD

9/1

Not won since landing a C&D conditions race at this meeting in 2016. Ran some fair races in defeat in 2017 but has been badly out of form this winter. Better on faster ground than he's likely to get here and others preferred. Wears first-time visor.

Form: 053530

(1)

A Momentofmadness^h²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Hills| OR: 95| D

11/4

Broke the 5f course record at Kempton in April and while he was a no show when returned to turf at Newbury later that month, he probably went off too hard. Has to be of interest from the pea draw returned to a turning track.

Form: 465-317

(10)

Hyperfocus²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 95| D

33/1

Won back-to-back races at Haydock towards the end of last year. Has returned from wind surgery in poor form on two starts this campaign and will want some rain to be seen at his best here.

Form: 6110-60

(5)

Reflektor⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 95| CD

13/2

C&D winner last year and has been running well on AW this winter. Another who likes to get his own way from the front and faces plenty of competition for the lead here; looks a little vulnerable from this handicap mark.

Form: 088-115

(7)

Mayleaf Shine^h²⁰⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Sullivan| T: I Jardine| OR: 92| D

16/1

Heavy ground winner at Haydock in September but struggled on two subsequent outings. Not always the fastest away and her hold up style not best suited to this course.

Form: 025163-

(13)

Boundsy¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87| CD

25/1

Form at this course reads 2211 and holds the course record over 6f. Latest success came over C&D but of form in two runs last year and has been dealt a cruel blow with this draw.

Form: 2113-70

(11)

Confessional^e/s¹⁹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 8-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 86| CD

50/1

Consistent sort, latest win came when gaining his second success over C&D and hes been running well in defeat since. Has his 119th start here and while he's a shade high in the handicap at present, he holds place claims.

Form: 373434-

(4)

Powerallied²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 86| CD

9/2

Three of his four career wins have come here, defying a slow start to get the better of reopposing El Astronaute when last seen at this course. Finished off last season with a below par effort but respected back here on return for these connections.

Form: 227718-

(3)

Tavener^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-2| J: F Norton| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 83| D

8/1

More effective on AW and best turf runs have come on faster ground than what's likely here. Well drawn for his usual front-running tactics and booking of this jockey an obvious positive so not dismissed despite having not won off a mark this high.

Form: 761517

(6)

Bossipop^b¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Nathan Evans| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| C

14/1

Course winner. Finished last season with a poor run of defeats and has continued in that vein of form in two starts this year. A better horse over 6f and hard to fancy from out of the handicap.

Form: 5080-00

Non-Runners

(2)

Doctor Sardonicus³¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 7

T: Tom Dascombe J: M Harley

(12)

Gracious John²⁰

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: P D Evans J: Fran Berry

Forecasts

A Momentofmadness (11/4), Powerallied (9/2), Doctor Sardonicus (5/1), El Astronaute (6/1), Reflektor (13/2), Tavener (8/1), Sir Maximilian (9/1), Gracious John (12/1), Bossipop (14/1), Mayleaf Shine (16/1), Boundsy (25/1), Hyperfocus (33/1), Confessional (50/1)

POWERALLIED is a three-time course winner who makes plenty of appeal from a nice draw (4) in the opener on the card and his trainer Richard Fahey won this for the same owners in 2015. A Momentofmadness is another who has drawn well with the inside berth and Charlie Hills' charge was seen breaking the track record at Kempton two starts back; the gelding can be forgiven his latest effort. Boundsy has his work cut out from his stall (13) but can't be dismissed given his course record.