16:25 Chester

Saturday 1 September 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Ideal Recruit Handicap

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 1m 4.54s

(6)

Growl¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 99| D

3/1

Has been in excellent form this season without managing to get his head in front. Seemingly still very well-handicapped on old form and a promising apprentice claims 5lb here. Looks likely to get well from a workable draw.

Form: 0-20433

(11)

Copper Knight^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95| CD

8/1

Two-time course winner and useful when allowed to make all but will struggle to do that here and this handicap mark doesn't leave him much room for error. Others preferred this time.

Form: 061960

(2)

Reputation^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 91| D

7/1

Impressive when winning at Ripon earlier in the campaign but has struggled a little from his revised mark since. Usually at his best when ridden prominently and has a good draw to work with here but never won over a trip this short.

Form: 080209

(9)

Sanaadh³⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: F Norton| T: M Wigham| OR: 91| D

50/1

Impressive when winning his maiden at Thirsk in 2016 but only moderate form when trained in Germany subsequently. Starts out for new yard and the handicapper has taken no chances with his opening handicap mark. Best watched here.

Form: 521/168-

(7)

Show Stealer^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: Rae Guest| OR: 90| D

16/1

Has won twice at Bath this summer but she has struggled off her revised mark on her last two outings and historically, she struggles to get competitive off this sort of handicap mark. Others preferred.

Form: 771174

(4)

Powerallied³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| CD

9/2

Won this race last year and gained his fourth course win here last time out when making all in impressive fashion. Only nudged up 1lb for that and while this is more competitive, he has place claims again.

Form: 224231

(3)

Dark Shot^p1⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: S Dixon| OR: 86| D

11/2

Ran a huge race when only narrowly denied at York earlier in the campaign. Form has dipped a little since but he ran well enough last time out and the combination of the draw, this jockey and the first-time cheekpieces looks positive.

Form: 509494

(5)

Confessional^e/s²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 8-7| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| CD

15/2

C&D winner back in July before a respectable third behind Powerallied two starts back. Another fair effort in defeat at Haydock last time and his consistency is appealing from an each-way perspective.

Form: 523134

(8)

Venturous^h1¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: J F Egan| T: T D Barron| OR: 80| D

18/1

Hasn't won since his third start back in 2015. Ran well when runner-up over C&D behind Confessional earlier in the campaign but his habit of missing the break is unattractive and he needs to improve for the fitting of a first-time hood.

Form: 35-0284

(1)

Bossipop^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 78| BF| CD

17/2

All his best form has come with soft in the going description. Losing run starting to mount up now but he has won on this course and he's on a fair mark if he can bounce back.

Form: 085325

Non-Runners

(10)

Shaheen¹²

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: J & S Quinn J: Harry Bentley

Forecasts

Growl (3/1), Powerallied (9/2), Dark Shot (11/2), Reputation (7/1), Confessional (15/2), Copper Knight (8/1), Bossipop (17/2), Shaheen (10/1), Show Stealer (16/1), Venturous (18/1), Sanaadh (50/1)

There's plenty to like about the profile of GROWL, placed in some more competitive events than this on recent starts and still on what seems a very lenient handicap mark. Dark Shot may improve for first-time headgear and he ran well in defeat last time out. Powerallied, stablemate to the selection, loves it around here and can run well again having only been nudged up 1lb in the ratings for his most recent course success.