15:35 Chester

Friday 10 May 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

SportPesa Chester Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 4m 33.09s

(17)

Low Sun^p²⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 106

8/1

Talented dual purpose performer who has been raised 9lb for an impressive success in the Cesarewitch when last seen. Has form on soft over hurdles, so contrasting ground not necessarily a concern but wide draw is a worry.

Form: 531/161-

(5)

Austrian School²⁰^{(ex 3)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 105| C

3/1

Won at this meeting last year and held his form well throughout the rest of 2018 without getting his head in front. His wide margin win at Musselburgh on return suggests he's improved in the off-season and 3lb penalty may not be enough to stop him.

Form: 32223-1

(11)

Montaly²¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: A M Balding| OR: 103| CD

25/1

Won 2017's renewal of this race and went on to win a below par renewal of a York Group 2 that season. Hasn't won since but getting back down towards a workable mark, conditions are in his favour and arrived fresh in his previous win of this race.

Form: 7/47588-

(7)

Whiskey Sour¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: W P Mullins| OR: 102

9/2

Grade 1 winner over hurdles and while he hasn't won on the Flat since 2017, he's run some fair races in defeat, most notably when fifth in the Ascot Stakes last year. Ground looks fine but handicapper mark probably no more than fair.

Form: 11/5609-

(1)

Cleonte⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 101

5/1

Looks an exciting stayer going forward and followed up a decent win at the Shergar Cup Meeting with a good third in the Cesarewitch. Career best when third in the Sagaro last time and due to go up 4lb when reassessed but ground is a slight concern.

Form: 49613-3

(12)

Who Dares Wins^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: A King| OR: 100| C

6/1

Hasn't won since landing the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket back in 2017. Has placed in the last two renewals of this race though and remains on a workable handicap mark so can't be ruled out after a promising prep run at Newbury.

Form: 3010/3-3

(2)

Cliffs Of Dooneen²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 104

16/1

Won his first two starts for Aidan O'Brien and subsequently sold to this yard after four starts for 90,000 gns. Yard do well in big stayer's handicaps but the assessor wouldn't appear to have taken any chances with his handicap mark here.

Form: 117P-5

(16)

Making Miracles¹³^{(ex 3)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101

16/1

Improved from reappearance when well behind Austrian School to win at Ripon last month. Looks vulnerable under a 3lb penalty and wide draw not ideal here.

Form: 3003-51

(6)

Speedo Boy⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: James Doyle| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98

25/1

Listed winner on heavy ground in France back in 2017. Not the most consistent on the Flat and well beaten in two starts at Meydan this winter; looks vulnerable from 5lb above his last winning handicap mark.

Form: 1356-66

(9)

Shabeeb³⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: P Hanagan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98

28/1

Won two of his three starts in 2016 and while clearly not the easiest to train subsequently, he got his head back in front at Newmarket when last seen nearly a year ago. Starts out for new yard but hasn't been seen at his best on soft ground.

Form: 003/541-

(13)

Time To Study⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 97

25/1

Losing run goes back to 2017 and showed nothing on yard debut at Lingfield in February. Some of his best form has come on heavy ground and yard won this last year but this gelding has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 64009-8

(10)

Watersmeet²¹^{(ex 3)}

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93

40/1

Better on AW than turf but handicap mark reflects that at least and he was impressive when winning the stayers' race on AW Finals Day last time out. Has run well in previous renewals of this and has a much reduced handicap mark this time around.

Form: 414-321

(14)

Lucky Deal¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: J F Egan| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99| BF

33/1

A winner of five of his 18 starts but has a career high mark to cope with after finishing runner-up at Ripon last time and seems to have been kept away from soft ground to date. Less exposed than some but wide draw not ideal and others preferred.

Form: 4-21442

(4)

Fun Mac^t¹⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Charlie Bennett| T: H Morrison| OR: 93

12/1

Third in this in 2017 and went on to win in Listed class at Maisons-Laffitte. Returned with an excellent second last year to Magic Circle and while he's been very disappointing in the interim, he arrives on an attractive mark here.

Form: 430400-

(3)

Mirsaale^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-6| J: J P Sullivan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 92

50/1

Finished third of 16 on only C&D start in the Chester Plate at this meeting last year. Still above that handicap mark here though and his two runs this year have been disappointing. Has a bit to prove.

Form: 1300-95

Non-Runners

(8)

Magic Circle¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: Ian Williams J: Cieren Fallon

(15)

Busy Street³⁹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 7

T: M Appleby J: Alistair Rawlinson

Forecasts

Austrian School (3/1), Whiskey Sour (9/2), Cleonte (5/1), Who Dares Wins (6/1), Low Sun (8/1), Fun Mac (12/1), Magic Circle (12/1), Making Miracles (16/1), Cliffs Of Dooneen (16/1), Speedo Boy (25/1), Time To Study (25/1), Montaly (25/1), Shabeeb (28/1), Lucky Deal (33/1), Busy Street (33/1), Watersmeet (40/1), Mirsaale (50/1)

Magic Circle performed too poor to be true in the Melbourne Cup last time and the way in which he won this race last year is still fresh in the memory. However, it will be tough to carry top-weight to victory here and a chance is taken on FUN MAC who may be able to return to form. He's run well in the last two renewals of this race and looks very well-handicapped on some of that form. There's a host of runners in with a chance but the most likely candidates look like Cleonte and Austrian School who are both well in after career best performances last time out.