15:10 Chester

Saturday 13 July 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

SportPesa City Plate Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 1m 27.67s

(1)

Merhoob¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: B Doyle| T: J Ryan| OR: 101| C| D

20/1

Course win over 5f in May underlined his good winter AW form although he'll find conditions very different today, that win coming on heavy ground. Well below form in two starts since over sprint trips he now tries 7f (1-7 at the trip).

Form: 273100

(5)

Oh This Is Us¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: R Hannon| OR: 110| CD

10/3

Both his 2018 wins were registered here, one coming in this contest; hit the target twice since on the AW over 1m. Found his good run of form this year at an end of late (last two runs have been poor); no surprise if he bounced back here.

Form: 162236

(4)

Salateen^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: R P Downey| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| CD

16/1

Quite well drawn for one who likes to go forward (has won over C&D) with the majority of his wins coming at left-handed tracks over this trip. Remains rather hard to place these days; well held in a Group 3 last time, folded tamely when challenged.

Form: 105448

(7)

Vanbrugh²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 107| D

4/1

Useful performer when trained in France, made a winning GB/stable start when scoring at Thirsk (7f) in April. Has twice since shaped better than the bare result particularly last time in the Wokingham (drawn on wrong side); leading contender here.

Form: 948-150

(2)

Beauty Filly³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: W J Haggas| OR: 96| D

5/2

Consistent throughout 2018 gaining a well-deserved win over 6f at Hamilton (soft ground). Stepped up markedly on her reappearance effort with a career-best effort back in handicap company last time; looks to face a stiff task back in to Listed grade.

Form: 2218-81

(6)

Hells Babe¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: M Appleby| OR: 88| D

25/1

Not won since taking consecutive handicaps in early 2017; profile subsequently looks rather uneven. Returned to form from a fallow spell last time over 6f at Pontefract (race run to suit); faces a demanding task back in Listed company.

Form: 270-552

(3)

Marie's Diamond²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J Mitchell| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 104| C

5/2

Sole three-year-old in the field he's been far from disgraced this year despite lacking a win on his CV; set some stiff tasks in Group/Listed company. Ran soundly enough (made the running) in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes last time; enters the equation.

Form: 0-54438

Non-Runners

(8)

Blizzard²⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: R M Beckett J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Beauty Filly (5/2), Marie's Diamond (5/2), Oh This Is Us (10/3), Vanbrugh (4/1), Blizzard (12/1), Salateen (16/1), Merhoob (20/1), Hells Babe (25/1)

The feature race on the card that has attracted last year’s winner Oh This Is Us back to defend his title and he’ll need to battle as hard as he did last year to win this again. He’s certainly not without a chance but does need to recover from a poor run last time. That’s something that Marie’s Diamond doesn’t need to do having run well in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last time; his attacking style could make him hard to pass although he may face pace pressure for Salateen. VANBRUGH has already made a good impression for the Hills yard since arriving from France running a fair race last time at Royal Ascot when drawn on wrong side of the track; he can make amends here.