18:55 Chester

Friday 12 July 2019

All17:5018:2018:5519:2520:0020:3021:00

Together Commercial Finance Handicap

Off time: 18:55 | Winning time: 2m 33.68s

(4)

Lunar Jet³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: J Quinn| T: J Mackie| OR: 93

9/1

Won at Newmarket in May (1m2f, good to firm) and has claims from only a 2lb higher mark. Longer trip is a concern but has stayed further in the past; without winning though.

Form: 151073

(1)

Dark Red^b³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: B A Curtis| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 90| C

13/2

Dropped to an attractive enough mark but losing sequence extends back to October 2017 and his better efforts have been posted on an AW surface lately. Form has been modest since he returned from the Dubai carnival.

Form: 760537

(6)

Infrastructure³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: M Meade| OR: 90

4/1

Open to more improvement than some and back over a more appropriate trip after being left for dead over 1m2f at Newmarket last month. Still 7lb above his only previous winning mark but might be a stronger horse this year.

Form: 32166-4

(7)

Mistiroc^v²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 90| C

10/1

Another who hasn't tasted success for a good long while and has only come down 6lb in the handicap; the trip isn't too much of an issue but he's faltered on numerous occasions and is starting to regress since being returned to racing on the Flat.

Form: 500-275

(2)

Mugatoo²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 89| BF

4/1

Races for only the sixth time and still has plenty of scope over this sort of trip. Has won over further and his AW form as a three-year-old was respectable enough for him to merit consideration at this level. A strong pace would suit ideally.

Form: 713-15

(5)

Gossip Column¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 86| C

10/3

Found his form lately and bettered what was a decent effort at this course in mid-June with a win at York last time out. Thriving on being kept busy and still on a competitive mark despite having to shoulder 3lb more this time. Another to consider.

Form: 066631

(3)

Vivid Diamond²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 92

4/1

Down the field in the Cheshire Oaks and also disappointing favourite in a Listed race at Dusseldorf last month; but this is a lot easier and the filly has solid claims if able to run to the level of her close second at York in May.

Form: 512-825

Result Amended

Lunar Jet - Original Position 3rd. Amended Position 2nd.

Dark Red - Original Position 2nd. Amended Position 3rd.

Vivid Diamond - Original Position 3rd. Amended Position 4th.

Forecasts

Gossip Column (10/3), Infrastructure (4/1), Vivid Diamond (4/1), Mugatoo (4/1), Dark Red (13/2), Lunar Jet (9/1), Mistiroc (10/1)

Vivid Dreams is highly respected at this level and will have sound claims if she races with a little more restraint than she did in the Cheshire Oaks when she last visited Chester. However, slender preference is for INFRASTRUCTURE, who will appreciate this sterner test of stamina than last time and can be expected to be a lot sharper now he has a recent run behind him. The gelding has also coped well with this unique surface before and is an appealing option from what could well be a lenient mark. Gossip Column arrives in good heart and is another to consider from just a 3lb higher mark than for his win at York last month Mugatoo also makes the shortlist.