15:55 Chester

Saturday 15 September 2018

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

Stardust Liverpool Handicap

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 1m 17.89s

(1)

Private Matter¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85| D

7/1

Won off this mark in this grade at Catterick (6f, good) in June and despite returning to form at Thirsk latest (eighth of 14), his tendency to miss the break and finish off well from the rear will make life tough from his inside berth.

Form: 010758

(12)

Highland Acclaim^h¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Harry Bentley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85| D

33/1

Beaten just ¾L under similar conditions (6f, good to soft) on his penultimate start at his favoured track Epsom, and ran a reasonably encouraging race at Thirsk just a few days later (fifth); widest draw of all the major stumbling block.

Form: 133925

(11)

Handsome Dude^b¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: K Stott| T: T D Barron| OR: 82| D

25/1

Dismal since returning from an eight month absence - has managed to beat just a single rival in three starts (5f-7f); handles cut, on a winnable handicap mark, but rates as highly unlikely based on recent form, and from a wide draw.

Form: 03-1000

(7)

Confessional^e/s⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 9-6| J: Nathan Evans| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| CD

16/1

Veteran who is a nine time winner from 128 starts; headed inside the final half furlong when runner-up in a 6f Class 2 claiming handicap at Haydock last weekend (soft); effective at this track - winner over 5½f in July (now 4lb higher).

Form: 313492

(8)

Bossipop^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| CD

10/1

Twice a winner at this track previously, including when making all from the plum draw over 5½f (good) earlier this month (beat Reputation by a neck); raised 2lb and conditions will hold no fears; respected despite a wider draw today (stall 8).

Form: 853251

(5)

Guardia Svizzera^h¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 82| D

6/1

All the way winner off a mark of 59 at Hamilton (5f, good to soft) in mid August, and has justified favouritism twice since to arrive seeking a four-timer; 10lb higher than his last win (now 82), but thriving and this track will suit his run style.

Form: 732111

(9)

Russian Realm¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: P T Midgley| OR: 81| D

11/1

Solid early season 6f form (on AW & soft turf), and is handicapped to have a say; nearest at the finish sixth at Thirsk latest (6f, good), but his eye-catching second at Epsom in June (Class 2) marks him down as a possible contender.

Form: 372906

(10)

Venturous⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: F Norton| T: T D Barron| OR: 78| D

8/1

Patchy overall profile, and hasn't won since his juvenile days with Charlie Appleby (2015), but seems to go well at this track, runner-up to Confessional in July (5½f) and also a close up fourth Bossipop (5½f) recently; place chance.

Form: 028440

(3)

Madrinho⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 77| D

10/1

Three-time 6f winner this season (two on the AW), but seems to have had a mid-season blip in form; more encouraging latest when finishing seventh of 19 at Ascot (6f, good), in a race which featured Thursday's Doncaster winner Big Lachie (fourth).

Form: 121897

(4)

King Robert^v¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 77| CD

10/1

His last turf win came as a juvenile over C&D in August 2015 (on just his second career start), but his record on grass since reads 0-15; 6lb lower than when making the frame at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) in June, but hardly convincing overall.

Form: 763448

(6)

Rene Mathis⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| C| D

8/1

Front-runner who has picked up a couple of recent wins in claimers, including here over an extended 7f trip (good to firm); far less effective in handicap company, but interesting to see if a drop back in trip helps (possible).

Form: 651891

(2)

Ginbar²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Liam Jones| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 77| CD

11/4

Pacy 3yo who has just came up short over this trip on quick ground in his last three starts (all 6f); won off a 3lb higher mark over C&D (heavy) in late September 2017, so must enter the reckoning from a handy draw (stall 2).

Form: 087233

Forecasts

Ginbar (11/4), Guardia Svizzera (6/1), Private Matter (7/1), Venturous (8/1), Rene Mathis (8/1), Madrinho (10/1), King Robert (10/1), Bossipop (10/1), Russian Realm (11/1), Confessional (16/1), Handsome Dude (25/1), Highland Acclaim (33/1)

No shortage of early pace on offer with Ginbar (stall 2), Rene Mathis (stall 6), the thriving GUARDIA SVIZZERA (stall 5), Confessional (stall 7) and Bossipop (stall 8) all capable of employing explosive racing tactics. Although plenty of the aforementioned horses have previous experience of Chester (unlike the selection), the manner of his recent hat-trick of wins make this ex-Irish racer difficult to oppose despite a 10lb rise in the weights for his latest Hamilton (5f) success.