16:25 Chester

Saturday 27 July 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:5016:2517:0017:35

Bud Light Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:29 | Winning time: 1m 40.87s

(7)

Lincoln Park²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Luke Catton⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 90| CD

3/1

Front-running sort who tends to do best with some cut in the ground. Last-time-out Haydock third came in ground muck quicker than ideal, so entitled to consideration here.

Form: 5-04163

(5)

Felix The Poet^b²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 88

6/1

AW winner and has so far shown best form on the synthetic surfaces. Has something to find on turf based on previous four efforts but was in good form at Chelmsford (second) recently.

Form: 181-452

(3)

Be More¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: William Carver⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 82| D

2/1

Another that likes to be in front, winning at Goodwood (1m, soft) in June. Not as good since at Ascot when off the pace and faces plenty competition for the lead here.

Form: 4-216

(1)

Daafr^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Kieran Schofield⁽³⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 81

25/1

Ex-John Gosden inmate, winner on the AW at Newcastle last year and has so far shown best form in that sphere. Poor in three runs this year and hard to enthuse about currently.

Form: 253-867

(4)

Pacino¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Russell Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78

12/1

2-13 record now, most recently scoring at Beverley (7½f, good to firm) in April. Not as good since but now back within 1lb of that winning mark if able to bounce back.

Form: 179345

(2)

Friendly Advice^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Dylan Hogan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 77

5/1

Very consistent in 2019, with wins at Beverley (5f, good) and Hamilton (6f, good to firm) in last five starts. Can get involved if stamina holds out over this longer journey.

Form: 513312

(8)

Salam Zayed⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Harrison Shaw| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69| CD

5/1

Has already scored over C&D (good) and at Nottingham (1m½f, good) this month. Up in the ratings and into better company but wouldn't be passed over quickly in colours that do so well here.

Form: 6-49011

Non-Runners

(9)

Blonde Warrior²⁹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 3

T: H Palmer J: Sebastian Woods

(6)

Revich²³

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: R Spencer J: Sean Kirrane

Forecasts

Be More (2/1), Revich (11/4), Lincoln Park (3/1), Salam Zayed (5/1), Friendly Advice (5/1), Felix The Poet (6/1), Blonde Warrior (8/1), Pacino (12/1), Daafr (25/1)

They are unlikely to be hanging around here with Be More, Revich and Lincoln Park all likely to want a prominent position. The last-named showed more on decent ground at Haydock last time after a preference for soft previously and is interesting now. Friendly Advice is in fine fettle should his stamina hold out over this trip while Salam Zayed is a C&D winner in colours that do well here but will need more in this company to complete the hat-trick. His stablemate PACINO has been a regular here this summer and is now on a good mark, with 5lb claimed to boost. From a low draw, he's entitled to run well at a fair price.