14:05 Chester

Saturday 15 September 2018

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5516:3017:05

Read Josephine Gordon Blog At unibet.co.uk/blog Handicap

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 3m 18.07s

(6)

Suegioo⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 88| C

14/1

Chester Cup winner of yesteryear (2014), and also a Northumberland Plate runner-up in his prime; this looks to be a shade easier than the races he has tackled of late and he's handicapped to have a say, but the trip is on the short side.

Form: 494184

(3)

Baydar^v1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P Hanagan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 88

8/1

Still struggling to recapture his 2016 form for previous trainer Hugo Palmer (four-time 1m2f winner), the visor is applied for his first attempt over 1m6f; ground perfect and handicap mark on the slide, but does need to prove that he stays.

Form: 000-059

(7)

Night Of Glory^b1¹¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: M Dwyer| T: A M Balding| OR: 86

7/2

His most recent win came over hurdles at Fontwell (2m1f+ heavy) in February, but absent since May, he's not done much racing on the Flat this season; has previous Chester experience (6th of 16 in the Plate); blinkers applied.

Form: 25-1066

(9)

Stormin Tom²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

10/1

Has enjoyed a good run of form from mid-season onward, with a 1m6f win at Ripon (good) and a 2m win at Beverley (good to firm) the highlights; this track suits his prominent run style; now 12lb higher than when placed here in June (2m).

Form: 212210

(8)

Zafayan^p¹²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: J Garritty| T: P D Niven| OR: 84

50/1

Left Dermot Weld for £20,000 in August 2017 as a winner of four races (Flat and hurdles); out of sorts early season for his new handler, last seen finishing last of 16 in the 2m2f+ Chester Plate in May; dropped 4lb.

Form: 270-400

(10)

Captain Courageous¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Bentley| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 82

10/1

Newcomer to staying races, having never competed over further than 1m2f previously (winner at that trip); handicap mark easing, with his most recent Epsom fourth of seven (never nearer) suggesting the extra yardage was worth trying at some stage.

Form: 340-774

(2)

Project Bluebook¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: K Stott| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 78| BF| D

9/2

Useful dual purpose horse (135-rated hurdler); beaten 4L when a one-paced fourth of seven to Master Archer (2m, good) here earlier this month, but dropped 2lb since and now has slightly easier ground in his favour; likely contender.

Form: 10/22-64

(4)

Faithful Mount^p²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: George Downing| T: Ian Williams| OR: 78| D

12/1

Stablemate of Baydar; racing over his optimum trip and with his favoured cut in the ground, but very difficult to be enthused by his five starts in 2018 since returning from a 16+ month break; tailed-off last at Nottingham latest (1m6f, good).

Form: 7/06859

(1)

Always Resolute²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: F Norton| T: B Ellison| OR: 75| C| D

5/1

A winner on his sole previous visit to this track (2m, good - June 2016), and shouldn't be unduly inconvenienced by the recent rainfall; has raced over hurdles since making the frame on Tapeta at Newcastle (1m4f) in June; of major interest.

Form: 4304-03

(5)

Ravenous²²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁵⁾| T: L A Dace| OR: 73| D

5/1

Consistent throughout the majority of this season on turf, and recorded a fourth career success (from 55 starts) when making all to gamely justify favouritism at Salisbury (1m6f, good) last month; up 4lb in a more competitive contest.

Form: 522541

Forecasts

Night Of Glory (7/2), Project Bluebook (9/2), Ravenous (5/1), Always Resolute (5/1), Baydar (8/1), Captain Courageous (10/1), Stormin Tom (10/1), Faithful Mount (12/1), Suegioo (14/1), Zafayan (50/1)

A couple of these have proved to be massively consistent throughout the summer of 2018, notably the gallant Stormin Tom and the last time out Salisbury winner Ravenous, but the handicapper has taken aim as a result and both appear vulnerable. On the other hand, some have questions to answer with regards well-being, including Night of Glory and Zafayan. Therefore, we'll opt to focus on a couple of useful dual purpose performers. Always Resolute is 1-1 at Chester (2m) and finished runner-up over timber at Cartmel latest, but the 135-rated hurdler PROJECT BLUEBOOK is marginally preferred on the strength of a fair recent Flat run at this track (2m).