17:05 Chester

Thursday 10 May 2018

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

Partner Tech Handicap

Off time: 17:07 | Winning time: 2m 16.11s

(6)

Dance King^p,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| D

20/1

Heavy ground winner at Pontefract in September and should come on for his recent reappearance at Thirsk. Hard to imagine he's well-handicapped here though.

Form: 86414-0

(2)

Al Destoor^t¹⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: J Candlish| OR: 88| CD

8/1

Despite only winning once for this yard last year (1m2f) he showed some consistent form before ending the season in a difficult and demanding handicap. Last seen over hurdles (ran well) he may just need this although has run well fresh before.

Form: 123620-

(9)

Indian Chief²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 88| D

10/1

Narrowly denied at Ripon last time out but probably wants rain to be seen to best effect and handicap mark looks a little on the high side.

Form: 257-762

(7)

Novelty Seeker⁵⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Cam Hardie| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 87| D

50/1

Career best effort saw him win a competitive race at York when last seen at the back end of 2016 but entitled to need this on return from the lengthy absence.

Form: 070621/

(12)

Mulligatawny^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 86| D

33/1

Well beaten in the Cambridgeshire to round off 2017 and shown nothing in two starts at Ripon (a course he tends to run well at) in two starts this campaign. Hard to fancy in current form and from the widest draw here.

Form: 4420-00

(3)

Abareeq⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 85| D

7/1

A four-time winner on AW but yet to win in 11 turf starts and beaten 22L at Ascot last week. Others preferred.

Form: 8073-20

(11)

Dark Devil¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| C

6/1

A course winner here in September last year but has shaped like a non-stayer over this trip in the past and has been dealt a poor draw here.

Form: 1292-04

(4)

Never Surrender¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: C Hills| OR: 83| CD

11/4

Sole win came over C&D in a maiden at this meeting last year. Shaped well on return to action so can't be ruled out from a nice draw.

Form: 17799-4

(5)

Fast Dancer¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Finley Marsh⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tuite| OR: 83| C

8/1

His one win since 2015 came at Bath over 1m last year. Best effort for some time over a similar trip at Newbury last time but not typically the type to back that up and hold up style not as well suited to this course.

Form: 17244-3

(10)

Berrahri¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: J R Best| OR: 78| CD

7/1

C&D winner. Latest win came in a handicap here over further last July. Out of form lately but back below his last winning mark at least and Champion Jockey takes over in the saddle. Interesting runner.

Form: 335-848

(1)

Bakht A Rawan²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: W S Kittow| OR: 78

8/1

Has won three of his seven starts since joining this yard and returned from a significant absence to win at Windsor last time out. 5lb rise for that fair and unexposed over this trip.

Form: 12365/1

(8)

Zabeel Star²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: P J McDonald| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 77| D

25/1

Has been holding his form well on AW this winter but likely to want faster ground than what's likely on return to turf here and has the potential to miss the break. Others preferred.

Form: 355127

Forecasts

Never Surrender (11/4), Dark Devil (6/1), Abareeq (7/1), Berrahri (7/1), Fast Dancer (8/1), Bakht A Rawan (8/1), Al Destoor (8/1), Indian Chief (10/1), Dance King (20/1), Zabeel Star (25/1), Mulligatawny (33/1), Novelty Seeker (50/1)

BERRAHRI is a tentative selection given his course form and now he's back below his last winning mark, he may be able to get his head back in front. Bakht A Rawan was impressive on return from a lengthy absence last time and isn't ruled out while Never Surrender may do better back here at the scene of his only win.