17:15 Chester

Saturday 25 May 2019

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

Thyme People Handicap

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 2m 43.25s

(6)

Dance King^p,t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Nathan Evans| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

14/1

Just the one win from 13 starts last season (Musselburgh), but was running consistently well towards the end of the year; staying on third (beaten 3½L) over 1m2f here (soft) 16 days ago; feasibly could be involved.

Form: 55444-3

(1)

Heart Of Soul^v¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams| OR: 84| CD

7/2

Was fitted with a first-time visor (retained) when breaking his duck in no uncertain terms over C&D (heavy) a fortnight ago; 6lb rise to contend with, but no worries regarding today's faster conditions (runner up on good to firm in June 2018).

Form: 72-3231

(9)

Desert Ruler¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 83| D

12/1

Beaten 3¾L by the decisive winner of this race in 2018 (Jabbaar - runs earlier on the card); placed on turf at Thirsk (1m4f) on his penultimate start, although has done the bulk of his winning in more recent times on the Tapeta at Newcastle.

Form: 7-31538

(8)

Apterix¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 81| D

8/1

Better known for his jumps exploits (8-42); beaten by Clayton in a 1m4f seller at Musselburgh in April, yet has gamely made most in winning a couple of handicaps (Class 4 & 5) since; 4lb higher than at Thirsk.

Form: 00/6211

(2)

Berrahri²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Kieren Fox| T: J R Best| OR: 75| C

7/1

Has a smashing CV (12-83) which includes multiple wins on the 'White Turf' at St Moritz; drops back in trip after finishing 2L second to Rydan at Goodwood (1m6f, good) three weeks ago; up another 3lb.

Form: 331452

(3)

Charlie D^p,t²^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 73| BF| D

10/1

Carries a 5lb penalty for Thursday's commanding Chepstow win (1m4f, good to firm), although 3lb of that is effectively negated through Jane Elliott's claim; realistic contender at his trainers local track if avoiding the dreaded 'bounce' factor.

Form: 32136-1

(7)

Sioux Frontier²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: I Jardine| OR: 72| D

11/1

Has progressed quickly since being upped in trip; seeks the hat-trick following wins at Musselburgh (1m4f+) and Hamilton (1m3f); 4lb rise not overly prohibitive.

Form: 697-911

(4)

Never Do Nothing²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 82

3/1

Lightly-raced 3yo; twice a winner as a juvenile (1m, Thirsk & Pontefract); placed on both starts in handicaps at Newmarket (1m2f); theoretically should find this Class 4 race easier, albeit it does feature various recent winners; stamina?

Form: 311-33

(5)

Gabrial The One¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77

4/1

Placed on three of his five starts at Chester, and was also a winner from a 4lb lower mark in a 1m Pontefract nursery (good to soft) in October 2018; reared at the start and lost ground when tackling this trip for the first time.

Form: 3231-35

Forecasts

Never Do Nothing (3/1), Heart Of Soul (7/2), Gabrial The One (4/1), Berrahri (7/1), Apterix (8/1), Charlie D (10/1), Sioux Frontier (11/1), Desert Ruler (12/1), Dance King (14/1)

A tough looking finale which features a number of recent winners, with a couple of those (Apterix and Sioux Frontier) seeking respective hat-tricks. Furthermore, others arrive off the back of solid (non-winning) efforts with Berrahri and Never Do Nothing being the most obvious examples. Charlie D boasts realistic claims if asked to turn out quickly following his comeback win at Chepstow on Thursday, but if pressed a marginal preference would be for the ground versatile HEART OF SOUL who appears to be particularly well suited to the unique demands of this idiosyncratic track.