15:00 Chester

Friday 11 May 2018

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

Boodles Diamond Handicap

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 2m 10.07s

(10)

Titi Makfi⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 103| CD

9/2

Won six times in 10 starts last year including a C&D success on her only run at this course and improved from her reappearance when just touched off at Goodwood last time. Wide draw not ideal for her front-running tactics but holds place claims.

Form: 2631-62

(5)

Dark Red^b⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 101| CD

5/1

Rattled off a hat-trick in 2016 including a C&D success but form has been hit and miss since. Step back up in trip should suit and jockey booking an obvious positive but others likely to be better handicapped.

Form: 6134-47

(2)

Not So Sleepy^h,t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: H Morrison| OR: 98| CD

15/2

Won a Listed race over C&D back in 2015 and gained his first success since at the Derby meeting at Epsom last year. Form since has been poor though and barely beaten a rival home in his last three starts.

Form: 8158-60

(6)

Battersea^p1⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 98

8/1

Has just one win to his name since 2014 but has run some good races in defeat. Not the easiest ride and can be slowly away but first-time cheekpieces worth giving a go and useful claimer takes off 3lb.

Form: 5/6826-6

(12)

Speed Company^h¹²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 96| D

40/1

Won at Ayr last year and back on his last winning mark after some below par efforts towards the back end of last season. Last of six at Wolverhampton when last seen and opposable from the widest draw in this.

Form: 15050-6

(4)

Restorer¹⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 95| D

7/2

In a poor run of form for some time and last win came in a Listed race in 2015. Barely beaten a rival home on his last two outings and starts out for a new yard. Hard to fancy.

Form: 750390-

(1)

Petite Jack^b⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: D Tudhope| T: A Watson| OR: 94| D

9/1

Listed winner at Lingfield in December 2017 and useful when everything drops right for him. Form away from AW is patchy but reduced turf mark will help and not discounted from an ideal draw.

Form: 421-658

(9)

Super Kid¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 94| D

25/1

Former Godolphin inmate who returned from over two years off the track with a respectable effort at Ripon last time out. Should come on for that but may need a little relief from the handicap before he's back in the winners' enclosure.

Form: 32152/3

(7)

Cosmeapolitan⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Fran Berry| T: A King| OR: 93

20/1

Dual purpose performer who got his head back in front at Kempton in February. Well beaten at Newcastle last time out and possibly a bit high in the handicap for a race as competitive as this.

Form: 035-210

(8)

Grand Inquisitor^p¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: S De Sousa| T: Ian Williams| OR: 92| D

20/1

Gained a first win since his three-year-old career at York in October but struggling to land a blow from his revised mark on AW since. Jockey booking is a bonus but propensity to start slowly a concern and well beaten on sole try here.

Form: 4418-34

(3)

Pivoine^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 90| D

11/2

Won his last two starts for his former yard at the end of the summer but too fresh on return at Newbury last time. May do better if he comes on for that run here from a nice draw.

Form: 99411-0

Non-Runners

(11)

Gulf Of Poets⁶

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: M & D Easterby J: Nathan Evans

Forecasts

Restorer (7/2), Titi Makfi (9/2), Dark Red (5/1), Gulf Of Poets (5/1), Pivoine (11/2), Not So Sleepy (15/2), Battersea (8/1), Petite Jack (9/1), Cosmeapolitan (20/1), Grand Inquisitor (20/1), Super Kid (25/1), Speed Company (40/1)

GULF OF POETS ran a big race in defeat in the Hunt Cup at Wetherby on Saturday and has the potential to improve now stepped back up in trip. Dark Red is a course and distance winner who gets Ryan Moore in the saddle and he's another who may improve for a step back up in trip while Petite Jack isn't ruled out from his reduced handicap mark on turf.