16:30 Chester

Saturday 15 September 2018

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

Innospec Handicap

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 1m 38.01s

(2)

Mickey^v⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: P Hanagan| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 90

9/2

Consistent type who unfortunately continues to pay that price to the handicapper; up 1lb since his recent fast finishing (unlucky in the run) C&D head second to Kaeso (good); every chance from inside draw granted a better break from the stalls.

Form: 204202

(1)

Penwortham⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| CD

5/1

Three-time course winner (including C&D); 5lb higher than when successful here in June (7f); but beaten just 1½L when finishing third to Kaeso (today's rival Mickey second) over C&D recently.

Form: 066193

(8)

Hayadh¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: R Ffrench| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 88

20/1

5lb lower than when runner-up in the Hunt Cup at Wetherby (1m, good to soft) in May, so a repeat of that form makes him a live threat. However, inconsistent since and whilst fully able to race prominently might find his wide draw disadvantageous.

Form: 208048

(5)

Vive La Difference⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| BF| D

4/1

Beaten approx 3½L when finishing fifth in the Carlisle Bell (1m), and has edged up the weights a further 2lb despite his subsequent 80-day absence; handles cut, stays and has enjoyed a productive season on the whole, yet a career best is required.

Form: 321215

(7)

Mr Top Hat¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Harry Bentley| T: P D Evans| OR: 89

7/1

Won just once in 13 starts (6f, heavy), but difficult to knock for consistency and continues to rise in the weights; staying on 1½L second to Gabrial The Saint (6f) here in May a particularly noteworthy effort, effective up to 1m.

Form: 632325

(12)

Dark Intention²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 82| CD

20/1

Her last two wins have come on the Knavesmire at York - 4lb higher than when winning a 7f fillies handicap in June (good to firm); does boast previous C&D winning form and handles cut, but hindered by an awful draw in stall 12.

Form: 341479

(11)

Pastoral Player¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 9-1| J: Charlie Bennett| T: H Morrison| OR: 81| D

33/1

Narrow winner of the Brighton Mile on his penultimate start (good to firm), so this veteran of 80 races now competes from a 4lb higher mark; course fine, ground a concern as is his wide draw in stall 11.

Form: 347513

(4)

Viscount Loftus⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 85

12/1

6lb higher than when making all to score by a widening 3L at Musselburgh (7f+ good) last week, and is a force to be reckoned with on that improved form. However, not so good previously when well behind Mickey and Penwortham (over C&D).

Form: 444861

(3)

Redgrave⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: K Stott| T: J Tuite| OR: 80| D

11/4

No issues with soft ground on his 2017 form for Charles Hills, but has been kept to the AW since joining this trainer for 35,000gns in October 2017; 2lb higher than when leading late to score by a short-head at Kempton (7f) last week.

Form: 252-661

(10)

Misty Birnam^p¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: George Downing| T: Ian Williams| OR: 77

25/1

Useful juvenile in South Africa for Mike De Kock in 2016, but struggled in Ireland and very slow to get going on these shores. Tumbled in the weights and exploited that in retained cheekpieces at Redcar (7f) latest; plenty on with Penwortham (C&D).

Form: 9-00015

(9)

Tadaawol^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 77| D

33/1

Slips back to his last winning mark (1m Carlisle, good to firm), and is the type of horse capable of springing a surprise; not short on pace - an asset at this track, and handles cut in the ground; not the easiest too assess.

Form: 016859

Non-Runners

(6)

De Bruyne Horse¹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: B G Powell J: M Dwyer

Forecasts

Redgrave (11/4), Vive La Difference (4/1), Mickey (9/2), Penwortham (5/1), Mr Top Hat (7/1), Viscount Loftus (12/1), De Bruyne Horse (14/1), Dark Intention (20/1), Hayadh (20/1), Misty Birnam (25/1), Pastoral Player (33/1), Tadaawol (33/1)

A tough race featuring three last-time out winners, and the luckless top-weight Mickey, so not the sort of platform for offering strong opinions. VISCOUNT LOFTUS bolted up at Musselburgh last week, and whilst it's difficult to pin-point exactly what generated that vastly improved display, he should prove competitive from a low draw under a perfectly fair 6lb rise. Strictly speaking Penwortham has the beating of the selection on previous C&D form, and he enters the equation from stall 1, whilst Hayadh is also fully capable of going close from a reduced mark (5lb lower than when runner-up at Wetherby in May) if he truly fancies it.