17:20 Chester

Sunday 4 August 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:5017:20

1539 Handicap

Off time: 17:23 | Winning time: 2m 14.97s

(9)

Tough Remedy^b1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 78

16/1

Newcastle AW winner earlier in the year continuing his good form from 2018 at trips up to 1m he's rather gone off the boil of late. Eight starts since he last scored (runs off lower turf mark here); not an obvious winner, blinkers reached for.

Form: 028576

(7)

Heart Of Soul^p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 78| C

7/1

Scored an impressive win (1m4f) here in May (had plenty in his favour; first-time visor, soft lead) in testing conditions off this mark. Struggled off higher marks since (run exclusively at this venue); run his best race since at this trip; chance.

Form: 156777

(11)

Confrontational⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: A Mullen| T: J Candlish| OR: 77

12/1

Yet to really convince that this trip is what he wants; yet to score for this yard having arrived on the back of two winning AW efforts at up to 1m. Headgear once again removed (dropping in the weights); poor draw, doubts remain.

Form: 632948

(8)

Scofflaw^v¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Harry Bentley| T: P D Evans| OR: 76| C

6/1

Course winner who comes here chasing a hat-trick having rediscovered his form of late producing two wins coming from off the pace (responds well to pressure). Still well treated on his old form; could be suited by the way this is run (if he stays).

Form: 566311

(10)

Nightingale Valley³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Rob Hornby| T: W S Kittow| OR: 76

20/1

Often goes well fresh and proved that point with a Nottingham (1m, soft) win in May off a seven-month break taking advantage of a reduced mark (beat Confrontational). Below-par twice since; return to soft a plus, not sure to stay this trip.

Form: 738-178

(1)

Redgrave³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tuite| OR: 76

3/1

Shaping encouragingly of late and now lurks just below his last winning mark with his last two races not being run to suit (needs to chase a strong pace; may not get one here). Likely to run well again with useful claimer on board; one to consider.

Form: 203655

(3)

Parole^t⁴⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 69| D

10/1

Long absence to overcome but was in good form when last seen following up a Redcar 1m2f win with a good third at Ayr when not getting a clear run. Hold-up type so low draw unlikely to be of much use; has run well off a long break before.

Form: 46/0813-

(4)

Bell Heather^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 66

12/1

Only turf win came on debut (2015) with all four victories since coming on Tapeta (Wolverhampton). Generally, runs his race around here (0-14, placed five times); turned in a rare poor effort at this venue last time; chance of gaining a soft lead.

Form: 123338

(2)

Dark Devil^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 66| C

7/2

Third in this last year off a stone higher mark he's 1-12 around here (placed numerous times); shaped far better than the bare result last time (came from a poor position). Not won since 2017 but some fair efforts in defeat, chance if this pans out.

Form: 672526

(6)

Manfadh⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: K Frost| OR: 64

7/1

Wolverhampton AW winner on his first run for his former yard in January over a similar trip; made a solid if unspectacular start for this yard last time. Lightly raced (yet to win on turf; 0-4) but not badly weighted; worth a try over further.

Form: 178553

(5)

Bold Statement²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Berry| OR: 57

50/1

Makes his debut for his third yard having only run five times so far with two modest starts in Ireland his most recent form (went backwards last time). Hard to construct much of a case with even this modest mark looking too high; others appeal more.

Form: 054-57

Forecasts

Redgrave (3/1), Dark Devil (7/2), Scofflaw (6/1), Heart Of Soul (7/1), Manfadh (7/1), Parole (10/1), Confrontational (12/1), Bell Heather (12/1), Tough Remedy (16/1), Nightingale Valley (20/1), Bold Statement (50/1)

Dr Marwan Koukash is once again well represented with three runners all from different stables taking part having had a trio finish 2-3-5 last year. All his runners this time around have a chance with Bell Heather having a chance of gaining a soft lead although Dark Devil looks the pick of his triumvirate having run well off a much higher mark in this last year. It’s likely that both Scofflaw and REDGRAVE will be looking to come from off the pace to score, the former is in top form if he stays this trip while the latter needs some good fortune but is nicely weighted on his best form which he’s looked near of late. Parole is also of interest despite the long absence.