15:10 Chester

Friday 14 September 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:4517:15

Homeserve Handicap

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 2m 14.56s

(1)

Bacacarat²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 83

6/4

Had been knocking on the door prior to his last-gasp win at Newmarket last time (dead-heated) so it wasn't unexpected, but faces both a rise in the weights and trip here (extra 2f), plus slower ground, so plenty to prove again.

Form: 4-32341

(5)

Dance Legend¹¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: Rae Guest| OR: 81| D

5/1

Winner over 10f with some cut at Ripon earlier in the season, so should handle conditions fine, and was highly tried in a Listed fillies contest when last seen out in May. Likely to improve again and it's a question of fitness after a break.

Form: 615

(2)

Mont Kinabalu¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 80

14/1

Twice a winner in the spring (under quicker conditions) and now back down on a winning mark after a few moderate efforts since then, but has twice raced on softer ground recently and underperformed. That has to be a concern here.

Form: 311666

(7)

Gabrials Centurion⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 71

10/1

Just a couple of places to show for his eight starts so far, tried over a variety of trips but seems one-paced whatever the distance and needs to find an extra gear. Well beaten latest and others are more persuasive.

Form: 46-2347

(4)

Breathable¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 71| D

9/1

Handles some cut underfoot, as his Beverley win in July showed, but has possibly gone off the boil if a disappointing run at Catterick last time is to be believed, and might be happier on stiffer tracks anyway.

Form: 621224

(8)

Alliteration^b1⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Hart| T: J Hughes| OR: 70

18/1

Well beaten all five starts so far and not really showing any signs of improvement. Blinkers given a try now but they look more in hope than anything.

Form: 74405

(3)

Mearing^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 68| BF

10/3

Comes here in good form after a win and a second at Carlisle last two runs, and no issue at all with the likely slow ground. Worries would be this easier track and step up in trip, both of which ask a new question, but clearly in good heart.

Form: 655312

(6)

Mr Carbonator³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: P Mathers| T: P A Kirby| OR: 66

33/1

Pops up now and then (usually on the all-weather) but likely to find this far too sharp a test and makes a quick reappearance after a poor effort earlier in the week. Has plenty on his plate here.

Form: 465350

Forecasts

Bacacarat (6/4), Mearing (10/3), Dance Legend (5/1), Breathable (9/1), Gabrials Centurion (10/1), Mont Kinabalu (14/1), Alliteration (18/1), Mr Carbonator (33/1)

A few of these are going to be ridden off the pace and the usual luck in running may be needed, even in this relatively small field, so a chance is taken that DANCE LEGEND comes back ready to go after a break, as she's got plenty of other things going for her - trip, ground, and may well lead these. If Franny Norton (and there's no man better around Chester) can get the fractions right, she could be hard to peg back. Both Mearing and Bacacarat are in good form but both have new questions to answer here.