17:00 Chester

Saturday 27 July 2019

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

Goose Island Handicap

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 3m 8.32s

(7)

Diocletian⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 82

3/1

Flopped here in Chester Plate in May over marathon 2m2½f (heavy) trip but close second in June at Sandown over this trip and should be competitive against despite 3lb rise.

Form: 86-4692

(12)

Berrahri¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Kieren Fox| T: J R Best| OR: 79| CD

5/1

Chasing a hat-trick after wins at Lingfield and Salisbury over similar trips. Acts on any ground but does have a concern over getting to race prominently from this high draw.

Form: 523311

(5)

Heart Of Soul^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 79| C

11/1

Broke his duck here in May over 1m4½f on testing ground when sporting a first-time visor (backed). Well held in four course starts since, doing best last time when dropping distance. Yet to run over this trip.

Form: 315677

(2)

Tor¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 77| C| D

9/2

5-25 career record on turf includes a win around here over extended-1m6f. Well held round here last month off a mark of 81 over slightly shorter, has run respectable race at Hamilton a fortnight ago.

Form: 078455

(11)

Dragon Mountain¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 73

25/1

Down the field in a handicap here already this month and 0-8 on turf now. Back up in trip but looks an unlikely winner on formbook.

Form: 853300

(8)

Liva^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: T Eaves| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 70

25/1

Twice a winner last season over hurdles for Donald McCain, also won over 1m2f at Epsom last summer for Eve Johnston-Houghton. Potentially well-handicapped but needs to come on for reappearance/stable bow at York last month.

Form: 14504-0

(10)

Marengo^b⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: George Wood| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 70| CD

9/1

Lightly-raced in recent times with his best form of late coming on much softer surfaces. Good closing effort when not getting a clear run here last month and does reserve his best for this track. Noted.

Form: 1/94-862

(6)

Four Kingdoms¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Sean Kirrane⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 69| D

14/1

Five-time turf winner, much-improved showing here last month (1m4½f, soft) in second spot and runs from the 1lb lower mark now. Can get in the mix with a repeat effort.

Form: 626243

(1)

Ebqaa^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J Quinn| T: J W Unett| OR: 65| C

12/1

Cape Cross mare with a liking for this track, having won here last year over 1m2½f. Likely didn't stay 2m last month when visiting and should go well back down in distance.

Form: 135276

(4)

Overhaugh Street²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: S A Gray| T: E De Giles| OR: 65

7/1

Appeared to need Musselburgh run after 329 days off and since finished ½L second over 1m4½f (soft) here. Rated 2lb higher now but has a good draw and entitled to get close.

Form: 2/802-62

(13)

Angel Gabrial^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 8-7| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁵⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 65| C

8/1

2m winner here last month, his second win over that trip in three starts. Still well-handicapped on his old form but concern that he wants that proper staying test these days.

Form: 623121

(3)

Miss Ranger^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: Jamie Gormley| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 57| C

20/1

Second here a fortnight ago over 2m at 25-1, she runs from a 4lb higher mark now and isn't getting any favours on these terms. Most recent success came here in 2017 over 1m4½f.

Form: 797902

Non-Runners

(9)

Bill Cody⁷

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: Miss J A Camacho J: N Mackay

Forecasts

Diocletian (3/1), Tor (9/2), Berrahri (5/1), Overhaugh Street (7/1), Angel Gabrial (8/1), Marengo (9/1), Heart Of Soul (11/1), Ebqaa (12/1), Four Kingdoms (14/1), Miss Ranger (20/1), Dragon Mountain (25/1), Liva (25/1), Bill Cody (33/1)

He's not getting any younger but Angel Gabrial is clearly still relishing his job and scored here last month over 2m. He is respected but the drop in trip might not be ideal. Diocletian flopped here in May but will be better suited over this trip based on his Sandown run since and joins last-time-out second here Four Kingdoms on the shortlist. Marengo was rather luckless here on previous visit and can go well but OVERHAUGH STREET might be the answer. Second on soft ground over 1m4½f last month at the track, this longer trip looks suitable and Ed De Giles' runner should be able to get to the front again from his low berth.