15:30 Chester

Friday 13 September 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:4017:15

ESL Group Handicap

Off time: 15:33 | Winning time: 1m 25.38s

(3)

Sir Maximilian²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-12| J: B A Curtis| T: Ian Williams| OR: 91| C

8/1

Back from a near year long break when surprising to take a 6f Doncaster handicap in May he faltered after that in three starts before returning to form last time. Twice a 5f winner here, this will be his first try at 7f, draw a positive though.

Form: 3-10605

(5)

Gabrial The Saint¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87| BF| C

6/1

5f course winner off this mark back in June (appreciated the drop in class) but has failed to match that performance since. Could be excused his run here last time out over shorter (met interference); back to 7f, 0-4 at the trip (placed twice).

Form: 100208

(10)

Moraawed²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Charlie Bennett| T: R Varian| OR: 91| D

14/1

Twice a winner this year his best performance came over this trip last time (beat subsequent dual winner) at Sandown. Not himself last at Newmarket (eased when held); overall, he remains one to be positive about; could have done with a better draw.

Form: 214016

(2)

Arcanada^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 86| CD

9/2

Took advantage of a much-reduced mark when taking a 1m handicap at Haydock (overcame an unfavourable scenario). Hit-and-miss in three starts since, should be excused effort here last time (hampered); well berthed to bounce back.

Form: 901720

(4)

Revich⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Megan Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 88| CD

8/1

Found out last time in a stronger handicap than he was used to, resumed winning ways the time before over this trip at Epsom (made all). Appears best when ridden prominently, well drawn to execute those tactics here; 4lb above last winning mark.

Form: 0-52410

(12)

Whitefountainfairy⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 84

7/1

Shown that she retains her ability this year having had to pick her way through twice in handicaps this year at Goodwood and Haydock (7f both times). Yet to win a handicap she's edged down to a good mark, needs some luck in-running; poorly drawn.

Form: 456603

(9)

Penwortham¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| CD

7/1

Last four wins have come here (won this in 2016); shaped much better than his finishing position last time in a superior race to this. Always looks capable of scoring off this mark but given his run style (held-up) needs the gaps to open for him.

Form: 641046

(8)

Wufud^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 82| D

12/1

Hard to fault on his return to action as a 4yo (first run post wind op; still not the finished article) at Goodwood over 7f in May (finished runner-up). Gone backwards since then in two subsequent starts (looks quirky under pressure); best watched.

Form: 517-255

(6)

Dragons Tail^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 80| C

14/1

Almost cashed-in on a reduced mark making his AW debut at Wolverhampton over an extended 1m before tacking an even longer trip at the same venue last time. That increased distance not to his liking; turf/7f should suit better, on a decent mark.

Form: 583636

(1)

International Man^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79| D

6/1

Appears to have been perked up by a set of blinkers winning at Catterick (helped by a falling mark) and Carlisle off a 4lb higher mark over 7f and 1m. Well drawn but has never won off a mark this high which means doubts creep in about his chance.

Form: 054711

(11)

Scottish Summit²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: G A Harker| OR: 79

25/1

Returned to form with his best performance of the year at Redcar last time when well positioned over 1m. Gradually slipping back down to near his last winning mark he'll have to be at his best to overcome a wide/poor draw.

Form: 05-9374

(13)

Candelisa^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁵⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 79| D

16/1

Now drawn widest of all he was a winner earlier in the season (first run back from a wind op) over 7f. Consistent since then for the most part without winning he never landed a blow last time (reported to have finished lame); mark a challenging one.

Form: 025206

Non-Runners

(14)

Blonde Warrior⁴¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: H Palmer J: Non Runner

(7)

Molivaliente⁶⁵

Weight: 8-8| Age: 3

T: J R Best J: Kieren Fox

Forecasts

Arcanada (9/2), Gabrial The Saint (6/1), International Man (6/1), Molivaliente (6/1), Penwortham (7/1), Whitefountainfairy (7/1), Sir Maximilian (8/1), Revich (8/1), Wufud (12/1), Moraawed (14/1), Dragons Tail (14/1), Candelisa (16/1), Blonde Warrior (20/1), Scottish Summit (25/1)

The draw always plays a part in the make and shape of a race like this and International Man who is in a rich vein of form and Arcanada must be respected although the former of that duo has never won off a mark this high from their low draws. The two 3yo’s in the race are both of interest although one – Molivaliente – arrives in better form that the other – Moraawed – although both have questions to answer with the former needing to show he acts on turf and the latter needing to bounce back from a poor run. PENWORTHAM a former winner of this race is always of interest here; he’ll need some luck but the race scenario could suit him ideally with Whitefountainfairy also respected.