17:15 Chester

Friday 10 May 2019

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

SportPesa Chester Plate Handicap

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 4m 42.76s

(9)

Coeur de Lion^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 88

13/8

Runner-up in this race last year and returns on the same mar. Plenty of promise in his Newbury return last month and he wants conditions as testing as possible. Has claims with the apprentice jockey well worth the 5lb he takes off in the saddle.

Form: 63850-2

(5)

Addicted To You^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 85

13/2

Hasn't looked quite as effective on turf as AW and his propensity to miss the break is an obvious concern at this venue. Should see out this trip though and he's on a nice mark so not one to rule out with Norton booked.

Form: 887327

(12)

Suegioo^p²⁰⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: P Hanagan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85| CD

16/1

Just two wins from 51 starts on turf but won the Chester Cup (C&D) back in 2014. Hasn't looked the force of old in recent times and his best form has come on a quicker surface, opposable from wide draw.

Form: 184665-

(10)

Constancio¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 85

16/1

Won twice on the Flat for Jim Bolger and has been running at a consistent level over hurdles for his new yard. Possible there's more to come on the Flat at this new trip and not ruled out.

Form: 0R6/121-

(7)

Never Surrender²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: C Hills| OR: 85| C

10/1

Course winner who was largely in good form last year, though only won once when winning 1m4f handicap at Epsom. Disappointed on his return though at Kempton when last of 11 and looks vulnerable from a handicapping perspective.

Form: 15262-0

(4)

Faithful Mount^p²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 82| C

20/1

Has won seven of his 27 turf starts including a course win here in September. Has been largely running well over hurdles this winter bar a disappointing effort last time at Haydock but will love this ground and stays all day.

Form: 859313-

(8)

Michael's Mount³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80

14/1

Has won four of his 19 starts on the Flat and has been in good form over hurdles this winter. Loves soft ground and returns on a workable handicap mark for a yard that do well with their stayers.

Form: 12313/8

(11)

Paddy A⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 79

33/1

Well below form over hurdles of late but he's much more consistent on the Flat. Handicap mark crept up without him winning towards the end of last season but should stay and jockey's 5lb claim will help.

Form: 536233-

(15)

Diocletian⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 83

8/1

Just one win from nine starts and while he was impressive when winning from out of the handicap on that sole success at Doncaster, he's not been in the same form since and has a wide draw to cope with here.

Form: 3186-46

(13)

Baydar^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 78

14/1

Remarkably won five of his first seven starts but hasn't won since the latest of those in 2016 and while he appears to be on a workable handicap mark, he's shown very little in recent starts to be of interest here.

Form: 65-7690

(6)

Arty Campbell¹⁹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: William Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 76| C

40/1

Course winner on heavy ground here in 2017. Very inconsistent subsequently and looks vulnerable on his seasonal return in a deep contest here.

Form: 079255-

(3)

Drakensberg^t⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: J F Egan| T: A J Martin| OR: 75

7/1

Struggling for form since moving to this yard from Germany but has put two impressive performances together at Dundalk on recent runs. Unexposed at this longer trip and while his rise in the weights looks a tad harsh, yard's raiders worth respect.

Form: 850-911

(2)

Always Resolute^p³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 74| C| D

9/1

Course winner back in 2016 but hasn't won on the Flat since. While his hurdles form has been okay of late, he looks vulnerable back in this sphere from above his last winning mark.

Form: 04/0348-

Non-Runners

(1)

Master Archer²⁰⁹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: J R Fanshawe J: Cieren Fallon

(14)

Loud And Clear⁵

Weight: 9-0| Age: 8

T: J S Goldie J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Coeur de Lion (13/8), Master Archer (11/2), Addicted To You (13/2), Drakensberg (7/1), Diocletian (8/1), Always Resolute (9/1), Never Surrender (10/1), Michael's Mount (14/1), Baydar (14/1), Suegioo (16/1), Constancio (16/1), Faithful Mount (20/1), Loud And Clear (25/1), Paddy A (33/1), Arty Campbell (40/1)

COEUR DE LION only found one too good in this race last year and the recent rain that's arrived looks sure to benefit him more than most. It would be no surprise to see Faithful Mount hit the frame with conditions also in his favour and he looks the pick of the Williams' runners. Drakensberg is worth noting for a yard that do well with their handicappers in the staying division.