16:50 Chester

Saturday 30 June 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Jim Beam Handicap

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 1m 0.07s

(9)

Harry Hurricane²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: T E Whelan| T: George Baker| OR: 85| D

10/1

Talented, but not straightforward, and on a losing run of 15 since scoring at Haydock in 2016. Not disgraced at Epsom last time, but could have been drawn better, and others preferred again.

Form: 00-7588

(11)

Boundsy³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| CD

20/1

Winner at Haydock in September and now 4lb below that mark, but he's barely beaten a rival in four starts this season, and hard to support until showing some sign of a resurgence.

Form: 13-7000

(7)

Merry Banter⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: K Stott| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| D

8/1

Running consistently well this year, winning at Catterick last month, and running creditably in defeat since. Possible the handicapper is in charge now, however, and not easy to dominate from middle draw.

Form: 701274

(1)

Acclaim The Nation^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: E J Alston| OR: 78| BF| D

4/5

Speedy front-runner who is drawn to attack, and has run well on both starts since scoring in first-time cheekpieces at Thirsk last month. Can look awkward under pressure, but another bold bid looks assured.

Form: 6-54132

(4)

Verne Castle^h¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: David Probert| T: M Wigham| OR: 77| D

5/1

Probably better on AW these days, and not beaten far at Chelmsford on last two outings. Failed to handle track when well held in Epsom Dash prior to that, and is at least dropping to a tempting mark..

Form: 6-05024

(6)

I'll Be Good¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: Nathan Evans| T: A Berry| OR: 74| CD

40/1

Has won a couple of times over C&D, including in previous spell with this yard, but no promise since moving from Brian Ellison last year, and needs to turn the clock back.

Form: 00/35-80

(8)

Liberatum¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 72| D

16/1

Won over this trip at Wolverhampton in March and back to form when 2¼L sixth of 11 to Bernie's Boy at Windsor (6f) last time, shaping as if worth dropping back in distance. Outside claims despite moderate draw.

Form: 040636

(5)

Computable^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 70| BF| D

12/1

Best effort this season when close third at Thirsk on reappearance, but hasn't gone on from that, and just a respectable effort when tried in cheekpieces on latest start.

Form: 60-3094

(3)

Maureb^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Shane Gray| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 69

14/1

On the premises on her first three starts this season, but form has slipped of late, for all she can be forgiven a modest effort over further here last time, when unsuited by hold-up tactics.

Form: 222647

(10)

Pea Shooter^t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-4| J: Joey Haynes| T: B Ellison| OR: 68| D

20/1

Resurgent after wind surgery this year, winning at Newcastle on return, and running creditably on all other starts. Hold-up tactics harder to pull off here, however, and wide draw another negative.

Form: 50-1654

Non-Runners

(2)

Misty Birnam¹⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: Luke Catton

Forecasts

Acclaim The Nation (4/5), Verne Castle (5/1), Merry Banter (8/1), Harry Hurricane (10/1), Computable (12/1), Maureb (14/1), Liberatum (16/1), Misty Birnam (16/1), Pea Shooter (20/1), Boundsy (20/1), I'll Be Good (40/1)

ACCLAIM THE NATION has speed to burn, and will have no excuses given the set-up of this race. He makes more appeal than his opponents in recent form, although Verne Castle has had excuses of late, and is beginning to look well handicapped on turf. Liberatum looked in need of a drop to this trip at Windsor last time, and has place claims despite being drawn wider than ideal.