13:50 Chester

Friday 11 May 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:4017:15

Crabbie's Earl Grosvenor Handicap

Off time: 13:54 | Winning time: 1m 32.38s

(9)

South Seas³⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 105

10/1

Started his career with three wins, the last of which came in Group 3 company and finished runner up in a French Group 1 in October 2016. Well beaten twice last year though and while this represents a drop in class, he needs to bounce back.

Form: 1162/50-

(3)

Above The Rest^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 105| C| D

11/2

Inconsistent sort but he was an impressive winner of the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last year and he was an impressive wide margin winner here in 2016. Handicapper has probably caught up with him but not ruled out from a nice draw.

Form: 4108-39

(11)

Goring^v⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 104| D

20/1

Rattled off a four-timer with all wins at Lingfield this winter and ran well when placed on AW Final's Day. Hard to imagine he's well handicapped now though and wide draw won't help him here.

Form: 611-113

(4)

Muntadab¹⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 100| BF| D

15/2

In the form of his life towards the back end of last year with two wins from his last five starts of the season. Runs well fresh but probably wants more cut in the ground to be seen to best effect.

Form: 912510-

(2)

Sound Advice²⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 98| CD

7/1

Won this race last year and finds himself back on that winning mark after some poor efforts throughout the rest of the campaign. Has needed his first run of the season in years gone by but not discounted from a nice draw if he can bounce back.

Form: 710850-

(15)

Calder Prince¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 94| D

20/1

Impressive winner at Wolverhampton in April but took a hike in the handicap as a result and yet to place in five starts here (three C&D). Hard to fancy from this draw.

Form: 4346-15

(16)

Mazyoun^b²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: F Norton| T: H Palmer| OR: 93| D

33/1

Beaten a long way on return at Newbury last month but looked mildly progressive last season. Widest draw has to be a cause for concern and others preferred.

Form: 15914-0

(6)

Snap Shots^t²²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Nathan Evans| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 92

50/1

Races further than 6f for the first time here and very hard to fancy after refusing to race on two of his last four starts including last time out.

Form: 27R40R-

(10)

Rene Mathis¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91

33/1

A winner of a conditions race at Thirsk just over a year ago but no doubt he's disappointed since and well beaten on both starts this campaign. Has fallen to a dangerous mark but wide draw is off-putting here.

Form: 1050-99

(5)

Gossiping²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: S W Kelly| T: G & J Moore| OR: 90| D

11/2

Looked progressive at the start of last season but finished the year in poor form and he's been struggling in three outings in 2018. Hold up style not best suited to here and others preferred.

Form: 000-809

(8)

Penwortham²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| CD

10/1

Course form reads 212513 and not out of this despite never having won off a mark this high. Connections have enjoyed a good week here already and no surprise if he's primed for this on return. Place claims.

Form: 851375-

(1)

Baraweez⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-5| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 89| D

7/1

Prolific towards the start of his career but not won since winning a valuable handicap at the Galway Festival for the second year running in 2015. Well-handicapped on old form and produced a better effort last time when beaten just 2L at Doncaster.

Form: 4486-74

(13)

War Department^v⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 89

50/1

Won twice at Newcastle last year but has developed a habit of missing the break, as seen last time back at that course and recent form not good enough to land a blow here. Opposable from wide draw.

Form: 1008-76

(12)

Mickey^v⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: S De Sousa| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 89| BF

10/1

Wolverhampton maiden winner in 2016 but not won since. Has returned to form in recent starts on AW but others likely to be better handicapped and has a tough draw to overcome.

Form: 27/0-422

(7)

Explain^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 88| C

12/1

Has run some of his better races at this course, one of those a heavy ground success over 7f here in September. Well beaten on both starts this campaign though and has never won off a mark this high.

Form: 2100-69

Non-Runners

(14)

Arcanada⁴²

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: Tom Dascombe J: R Kingscote

Forecasts

Gossiping (11/2), Above The Rest (11/2), Baraweez (7/1), Sound Advice (7/1), Muntadab (15/2), Arcanada (8/1), South Seas (10/1), Penwortham (10/1), Mickey (10/1), Explain (12/1), Calder Prince (20/1), Goring (20/1), Mazyoun (33/1), Rene Mathis (33/1), War Department (50/1), Snap Shots (50/1)

Connections of PENWORTHAM have already enjoyed winners here this week and this course specialist gets the tentative vote in the hope he's ready to go on return to action. Baraweez hinted at a return to form last time out while South Seas is another who needs to bounce back but has the class to win this contest.