16:35 Chester

Thursday 10 May 2018

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

English Fine Cottons Handicap

Off time: 16:38 | Winning time: 2m 41.28s

(6)

Austrian School⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 79

3/1

Pontefract winner at the back end of last year and won with a bit in hand at Chelmsford last week. Well in under a penalty and connections do well around here.

Form: 1531-1

(1)

Volevo Lui³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: M M Monaghan⁽³⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 84| D

12/1

Beaten 20L on debut at Yarmouth towards the end of last year but has improved with every start since on AW this winter. Won well at Wolverhampton last time out and a 5lb rise from the handicapper could underestimate him.

Form: 66-11

(4)

Ghostwatch¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 82| D

15/8

Placed on his two starts towards the end of the summer and won a decent looking maiden well at Wolverhampton on his return. Yard are flying and handicapper has given him a chance off this opening mark.

Form: 33-1

(7)

Christopher Robin^b²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 81| BF

6/1

Ran with some promise in a trio of maidens last year but well beaten at Leopardstown last time out on handicap debut when last of five. Yard's returners have been needing the run and expected to do better now upped in trip but opposable here.

Form: 273-5

(5)

Knightly Spirit¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 80| BF

7/1

Improved on handicap debut when switched from maidens on return last time out. However, he was a beaten favourite that day and may need to improve again here for the step up in trip.

Form: 733-2

(2)

Metatrons Cube¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S De Sousa| T: C Hills| OR: 75

33/1

Unplaced on all four starts as a juvenile but minor improvement at Lingfield on return last month. More exposed than most in here.

Form: 4408-3

(3)

Berkshire Royal²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Watson⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 72

7/1

Has improved as a three-year-old and escaped a penalty for an apprentice handicap success at Wolverhampton in April when winning back at that course last time. Up in trip again and may need more in this field.

Form: 8655-11

(8)

Arthenia⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J F Egan| T: C Hills| OR: 70

28/1

Still a maiden and well beaten on return at Newcastle last month. Must improve to have any say against some well-handicapped rivals here.

Form: 763-4

Forecasts

Ghostwatch (15/8), Austrian School (3/1), Christopher Robin (6/1), Berkshire Royal (7/1), Knightly Spirit (7/1), Volevo Lui (12/1), Arthenia (28/1), Metatrons Cube (33/1)

A wide open handicap restricted to three-year-olds and most of the field look capable of improvement but it's AUSTRIAN SCHOOL who makes most appeal after a taking effort at Chelmsford last week. Volevo Lui is another who may be capable of transferring his all-weather form to turf while Ghostwatch may have been given a real chance by the assessor on handicap debut.