15:55 Chester

Saturday 31 August 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

ESL Group Handicap

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 1m 7.78s

(7)

Angel Alexander²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 101| CD

7/2

Bolted in by six lengths over C&D penultimate start but raised 10lb as a consequence. Both course wins have come in soft ground so rain would be a big help. On balance may find a few too good on these terms.

Form: 115218

(3)

Growl¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| D

7/2

Very close third to Bossipop off 4lb higher in this race 12 months ago and bounced back to form with win at Ripon last time. Goes on the ground, good draw, so every chance he'll be thereabouts once again. Yard won this 3 of last 6 years.

Form: 520791

(1)

Gabrial The Saint²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| CD

7/2

Yard 3-6 in recent years in this race. Close second here on soft ground over 5f penultimate start and won here at that trip off 2lb lower in June. This is higher grade and on balance may find a few too good.

Form: 410020

(2)

Abel Handy³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: D Carroll| OR: 89| D

11/2

Won at Musselburgh in May off 2lb lower, close second here in June before poor return run here five weeks ago. Given break since then and may return refreshed so better run quite likely. May still be a pound or two high in the weights.

Form: 100620

(10)

Diamond Dougal⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: F Norton| T: M R Channon| OR: 86| D

12/1

Hold-up sprinter who will need luck-in-running if he is to win for the first time since scoring at Windsor in April off 3lb higher mark. Hasn't done quite enough of late to suggest he's the one to beat here.

Form: 254775

(4)

Machree²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: J Quinn| T: D Carroll| OR: 86| D

25/1

Speedy filly who is 5-18 to date. Ran afts for a long way at Musselburgh last time and no surprise if she isn't again in the firing line. Well beaten only previous run this term at this level though.

Form: 51-9105

(8)

Brian The Snail⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85| D

7/1

One of four in this for yard that have won 3 of the last 6 renewals. Faced some stiff tasks prior to drop in class last time when went close at Ripon. Back up in grade now and appeared to struggle in May on this track on only previous visit here.

Form: 550003

(11)

Peggie Sue¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Toby Eley⁽⁵⁾| T: A West| OR: 84| D

14/1

Fair filly won three last term and already bagged three this campaign. Faield by only a neck in Nottingham conditions event last time after suffering trouble in running. Draw could be better but she may again be in the thick of the action.

Form: 151652

(9)

Powerallied²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| CD

20/1

Fourth stable representative who won this race in 2017 off 2lb higher mark. Five wins and five seconds here and loves the place so bold show again quite likely despite failing to shine in last three starts.

Form: 921808

(5)

Bossipop^b¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| CD

20/1

Won this last year off 2lb lower. Has won twice this term at 6f but has run moderately last four starts and return to this happy hunting ground will need to spark revival for him to win this race again.

Form: 418898

(6)

Seen The Lyte^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 81| D

25/1

Battled on well to edge Haydock 5f sprint in June off 2lb lower mark but nothing to write home about in four starts since. Tends to start slowly and never landed a blow in two previous attempts here so others make rather more appeal.

Form: 416443

Non-Runners

(14)

Watchable¹⁰

Weight: 9-10| Age: 9

T: D O'Meara J: D Nolan

(12)

True Mason¹⁴

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: C Lee

(13)

Lord Riddiford¹⁰

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: J & S Quinn J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Angel Alexander (7/2), Growl (7/2), Gabrial The Saint (7/2), Abel Handy (11/2), Brian The Snail (7/1), Watchable (8/1), Diamond Dougal (12/1), Peggie Sue (14/1), Lord Riddiford (14/1), True Mason (14/1), Powerallied (20/1), Bossipop (20/1), Seen The Lyte (25/1), Machree (25/1)

A typically tight-knit Chester sprint handicap with Richard Fahey running four having landed this race three times in the last six years. Growl may be the best of his chances this time, but a chance is taken on PEGGIE SUE who has done well this year and may still be improving. There are a host of dangers, including top weights Angel Alexander and Watchable. The former's chance would be greatly enhanced by any rain. Previous race winners Powerallied and Bossipop can't be ruled out, while True Mason would be a cert if running close to last term's smart form but he has been struggling this season.