18:30 Chester

Monday 10 August 2020

All16:2516:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

ChesterTogether Queensferry Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 18:33 | Winning time: 1m 12.51s

(2)

Judicial²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 110| CD

6/4

Last two wins have come on AW but equally effective on turf (twice a course winner over shorter), smart performer at Listed/Group 3 level. Not disgraced last time in a Newbury Group 3 conceding weight all round, nicely berthed to go well again.

Form: 151-214

(9)

Angel Alexander^p1⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 101| C| D

28/1

Capped an excellent 2019 with a smart effort to land the Ayr Gold Cup (6f) enjoying a strongly-run race on a straight track. Twice a course winner (5.1f) last year he's struggled this year, now tried in first-time cheekpieces from an unhelpful draw.

Form: 2-56600

(1)

Dark Pursuit¹⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Bentley| T: M Botti| OR: 108| D

11/1

First run for this yard who has some useful form in Doha over 6f either side of the New Year winning a Group 3 when last seen (won four times in all there). Well drawn for his GB debut but hard to assess, faces some race-fit rivals, market to guide.

Form: 13/1

(7)

Emaraaty Ana⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: K A Ryan| OR: 104| D

7/2

Slightly underwhelming when third in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket on return from nine-months off having been strong in the market. Gimcrack (Group 2) winner as a 2yo, looks to just have a little to prove at the moment.

Form: 5/0051-3

(5)

Gabrial The Wire⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| C

12/1

Three times a course winner at various trips (but not at 6f) this is a step up in class for this useful handicapper. Proved his well-being last time when winning a 7.2f handicap on another tight-turning track (Musselburgh), this far tougher.

Form: 891-351

(4)

Growl³⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 98| D

33/1

Useful handicapper who looks to be tilting a windmills in this grade having not run this season. Took a good Ripon handicap last year over 6f before finishing second to Angel Alexander in Ayr Gold Cup, ended last year below-par, stiff task.

Form: 791620-

(6)

Major Jumbo²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 106| CD

5/2

Winner of this last year (beat Rock On Baileys) dropping in grade from a prior run when slightly better drawn than today. Not won since then in five starts, has run consistently though, behind Moss Gill last time (not well placed), fair claims.

Form: 170-336

(8)

Rock On Baileys^b²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 90| CD

33/1

Second in this last year while she's a useful performer this grade usually sees her come up short (this looks a better contest this year). Out of her depth last time in a York Group 3, not that well drawn today, looks to be facing an uphill climb.

Form: 01-2240

Non-Runners

(10)

Moss Gill²³

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: J D Bethell J: Non Runner

(3)

Keep Busy⁹

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: J & S Quinn J: B A Curtis

Forecasts

Judicial (6/4), Major Jumbo (5/2), Emaraaty Ana (7/2), Keep Busy (4/1), Moss Gill (6/1), Dark Pursuit (11/1), Gabrial The Wire (12/1), Angel Alexander (28/1), Rock On Baileys (33/1), Growl (33/1)

A cracking sprint with several of these having met before and a wildcard in four-time Doha winner Dark Pursuit making his GB debut for Marco Botti, his progress in the market should be monitored. Kevin Ryan’s MAJOR JUMBO won this last year beating Rock On Baileys (faces a stiff task) and with his York conqueror Moss Gill now a non-runner he can be given a good chance of following up. Emaraaty Ana from the same yard as the selection needs to find her form again but can’t be ruled out having scored in better company than this. No sprint at this level would be complete without Judicial who must go well with 3yo Keep Busy adding to the race depth and deserving a chance at this level.