16:40 Chester

Saturday 25 May 2019

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

1539 Handicap

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 2m 14.36s

(9)

Mikmak^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Nathan Evans| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| D

14/1

3lb higher than when beating Borodin by 2¾L in the 1m Class 3 Thirsk Summer Cup in August 2018 (good to soft); finished in mid-pack at Beverley (1m+) on seasonal reappearance (a fraction disappointing); steps back up in trip.

Form: 26038-8

(5)

Simoon¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 83| D

1/1

Seeks a hat-trick following wins at Chelmsford (1m) and Windsor (1m2f, good); 4lb above his last winning mark but placed on his only previous visit to this track (C&D); is evidently enjoying life back with Andrew Balding; strong claims.

Form: 4235-11

(3)

Indomeneo¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| D

9/1

Four of his five career wins have come over 7f-1m (has won once over this trip), and arguably he prefers some cut underfoot. However, is certainly capable off this kind of mark and probably found 1m4f (here) too far latest.

Form: 272-605

(2)

Humble Gratitude¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80

9/1

Has only raced once beyond 7f in 13 career starts, and his pedigree doesn't imply that he'll be suited by this 1m2f trip; finished sixth of 14 to Gossiping over 7f here (soft) 17 days ago; handicap mark easing.

Form: 5257-56

(7)

Mickey^v⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 79

20/1

Dropping down the weights at a rate of knots following an unproductive winter on the AW; always in the rear at Nottingham (Class 3) last month; remains a maiden on turf (0-12); stablemate of Chai Chai.

Form: 84-6450

(4)

Chai Chai^t1²⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 79| BF| CWS

6/1

Likes Chester (2-3); 5lb higher than winning over 7½f here (good) last summer; interesting to see how he copes with today's longer trip on his seasonal reappearance; has had wind surgery (also wears a tongue-tie); stablemate of Mickey.

Form: 551750-

(8)

Sands Chorus^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 77| BF| D

13/2

Has done much of winning at either Ripon (1m2f) or Wolverhampton (1m1f); sits on a reasonably competitive mark and has proved to be consistent so far in 2019; recent 2¼L runner up to Where's Jeff at Beverley (1m2f, good).

Form: 08-0342

(6)

Hats Off To Larry¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M R Channon| OR: 76| D

9/1

Won three times on the Flat last season, including twice over this trip by the River Thames at Windsor (good to firm); 1lb above his last winning mark; had a couple of unsuccessful attempts over hurdles in November 2018.

Form: 141341-

Non-Runners

(1)

Mearing²⁰

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: I Jardine J: Jamie Gormley

Forecasts

Simoon (1/1), Chai Chai (6/1), Sands Chorus (13/2), Mearing (13/2), Hats Off To Larry (9/1), Humble Gratitude (9/1), Indomeneo (9/1), Mikmak (14/1), Mickey (20/1)

Simoon has enjoyed success in both of his spells with Andrew Balding, and is clearly loving his life back at Kingsclere. There's every chance that he can land the hat-trick following wins at Chelmsford (1m) and Windsor (1m2f), with some of today's opposition untested over this 1m2f trip. However, in receipt of 12lb (if factoring in Jamie Gormley's 3lb claim), there's potentially some value to be sought with the upped in grade Hamilton scorer MEARING. Although winning over the extended mile at that Lanarkshire track (Class 5), he does also sport previous Class 4 C&D winning form (on soft).