13:50 Chester

Thursday 9 May 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Gateley PLC Handicap

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 1m 3.20s

(1)

Copper Knight^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 100| CD

11/8

Dual C&D winner who was in good form towards the back end of last season and returned with an encouraging effort when fourth of 16 at Musselburgh. May come on from that and has an ideal draw but will need to if he's going to defy this handicap mark.

Form: 01441-4

(4)

Merhoob²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Liam Keniry| T: J Ryan| OR: 98| D

22/1

Has won seven of his 42 starts but just once on turf in 18 attempts. Respectable third at Lingfield (AW) latest but looks vulnerable from this handicap mark away from AW and his better turf efforts have come on a sound surface.

Form: 212273

(6)

Camacho Chief¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 95| BF| D

9/1

Has won four of his 15 career starts and in excellent form towards the back end of last year. A big concern at this venue would be his propensity to miss the start and he's need reappearance runs in the past.

Form: 641125-

(9)

Growl¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95

11/1

Losing run stretches back to November 2016 when winning a Listed race at Doncaster. On a workable handicap mark but has never won over this trip and the draw could have been kinder. Expect him to be doing his best work in the finish.

Form: 33300-0

(8)

Reflektor²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 92| CD

11/2

C&D winner in July 2018, with all wins since coming on AW. On a workable handicap mark and yard target this meeting so likely he will be primed for this; each-way claims if his rider can get a prominent position early.

Form: 47-4814

(11)

Lord Riddiford¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 92| D

16/1

Rattled off a hat-trick last season and returned to form at the end of the campaign with an excellent third of 22 at Doncaster in October. Best when allowed to dominate and draw not ideal for those tactics but remains on a feasible mark.

Form: 119593-

(5)

Confessional^e/s²⁰²

Age: 12| Weight: 8-11| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 90| CD

16/1

Having his 133rd start and has four course wins to his name including two over this trip. Won on heavy at Haydock last time out but probably better over 6f these days and tough ask to defy this mark on return to action.

Form: 921371-

(3)

Fool For You²²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| D

8/1

Made it three wins from 10 starts at Wolverhampton in September and ran well when third of nine, upped in class at Chelmsford last time. Not always fluent from the stalls but less exposed than plenty of these and not without each-way claims.

Form: 712213-

(2)

Mokaatil¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: David Egan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 88| D

7/1

Got back on track when winning at Pontefract last month and showed than was no fluke when a respectable third of 16 at Musselburgh last time. Unproven with any soft in the going description and his hold up tactics not ideal for this venue.

Form: 45-6513

Non-Runners

(10)

Spoof²⁷

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: C Hills J: Non Runner

(7)

Orvar²⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: P T Midgley J: L Morris

(13)

Gold Filigree²⁰

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: R Hughes J: S W Kelly

(12)

Alfredo Arcano²⁰

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: D Marnane J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Copper Knight (11/8), Reflektor (11/2), Mokaatil (7/1), Fool For You (8/1), Camacho Chief (9/1), Growl (11/1), Spoof (14/1), Confessional (16/1), Lord Riddiford (16/1), Alfredo Arcano (16/1), Gold Filigree (20/1), Merhoob (22/1), Orvar (33/1)

A wide-open renewal of the opener. Reflektor has course and distance form to his name and his draw (8) looks just about manageable. However, preference is for COPPER KNIGHT who ran with credit on his return in a decent race at Musselburgh and if he can come on for that run, he could prove to be the one to beat. Orvar looks capable of better at some stage and may be able to bounce back from a poor run last time out.