15:00 Chester

Thursday 9 May 2019

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

Deepbridge Capital Handicap

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 40.11s

(4)

Drogon²⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 91| BF

12/1

Improved from debut to win at Haydock in July and only narrowly denied here over 7f in September. Went close again at Newcastle in October and seen at his best when allowed to dominate from the front. Will appreciate the step back up in trip here.

Form: 310292-

(11)

Barristan The Bold²⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 90| BF| C

8/1

Broke alertly when defying a wide draw here in September and may have been over the top when last seen at Newmarket. Has an absence to overcome as well as another poor draw but open to progress this season at least.

Form: 251416-

(8)

King Of Tonga¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89

13/2

Yet to run a bad race in five starts, improving from debut to win at Redcar and placed in three subsequent runs. Only narrowly denied when the front two pulled clear on return and may come on for that run but will need to from a 6lb higher mark.

Form: 3123-2

(1)

Woodside Wonder^p¹²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 86

20/1

Rattled off back-to-back wins on AW in December but failed to build on that in two subsequent starts. Best turf performances have come on quicker ground than what's likely here and others preferred.

Form: 94113-3

(9)

Sparklealot²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: T E Whelan| T: I Furtado| OR: 86| C

11/2

Won three of his six starts as a juvenile including a course success (7f) in September and ran with credit at Newbury on return to action when fifth of 14. Needs a bit more to defy this mark but unexposed and may do better.

Form: 14151-5

(3)

Lincoln Park¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: M Appleby| OR: 85

7/2

Won back-to-back races in October on his first two starts for this yard. Disappointed in two runs either side of the winter but it was a slightly better effort last time at Musselburgh and may be able to build on that.

Form: 4115-04

(10)

Spirit Warning¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 82| BF| D

8/1

Both his wins have come on AW but has performed well on turf at times, most notably last time out when only beaten 1L at Epsom. Up 2lb and drops back in trip but likely capable of better still.

Form: 5-21142

(7)

Pacino²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82

14/1

Won a Wolverhampton novice race in August and while he disappointed a little on next two runs, he's returned to form this spring and improved from reappearance to win at Beverley last time. Disappointed on only start with cut in the ground though.

Form: 1006-21

(5)

Metatron²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 82

12/1

Won on debut at Wolverhampton in October and ran okay in two subsequent AW starts. Disappointed on turf debut at Ripon in April but he's been dropped 2lb and he's the pick of yard's four runners for the stable jockey, so may do better here.

Form: 13-47

(2)

Lola's Theme¹⁸⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 80| D

10/1

Provided a huge shock when winning at 100/1 at Haydock in September and went on to win a valuable handicap at York later in the campaign. Best to forgive her effort at Newmarket last time out when stepped up to Listed class. Any rain in her favour.

Form: 761218-

(6)

Forseti^h¹¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 80| D

11/1

Confirmed the promise of a smart debut performance at Newbury when justifying favouritism at Salisbury. Refused to settle in subsequent races and while he got his head back in front at Lingfield last time, he needs to improve to have a say here.

Form: 41674-1

Non-Runners

(12)

Oasis Prince¹⁴

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: C & M Johnston J: F Norton

Forecasts

Lincoln Park (7/2), Sparklealot (11/2), King Of Tonga (13/2), Spirit Warning (8/1), Barristan The Bold (8/1), Oasis Prince (8/1), Lola's Theme (10/1), Forseti (11/1), Metatron (12/1), Drogon (12/1), Pacino (14/1), Woodside Wonder (20/1)

Local trainer Tom Dascombe does well with his runners at this venue and he saddles no less than four for this renewal. If there's any rain around, Lola's Theme could be the one to side with, having proved to be highly effective on soft ground in her two big-priced wins. Stable jockey Richard Kingscote sides with Metatron but DROGON gets the narrow vote with the step up in trip likely to suit. King Of Tonga isn't one to rule out give his consistency in five starts to date.