19:30 Chester

Monday 10 August 2020

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

School Of Hard Knocks Handicap

Off time: 19:31 | Winning time: 2m 11.72s

(14)

Mutaabeq^h¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 80| D

33/1

Showed his first glimmer of promise for this yard (third start) when fifth at Beverley (8.5f) recently, yet to really get going for them. Dropped to a fairly handy mark (first time in this grade), return to 10f no problem, wide draw far from ideal.

Form: 276-905

(11)

Olympic Conqueror⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D Tudhope| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 78| D

6/1

Dual AW winner at Kempton earlier in the year (10f/12f) taking his form up a notch this year, defying a 5lb rise record his second victory. Found a further rise beyond him when last seen, handicapper may be in control now back on turf.

Form: 158-115

(13)

Hillwalker^e/s1³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77

40/1

From a yard finding its feet of late he now has to do the same having finished well held on all three starts from them so far. Returns to a longer trip after being dropped 8f last time, eyeshields on for first-time, draw far from helpful.

Form: 033-570

(12)

Hot Team^v²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77

16/1

Offered something to work on when showing some promise on reappearance/stable debut at Haydock (8f). Slipped even further in the weights since then but unable to build on earlier potential, eased a further 4lb here, poor draw for a slow starter.

Form: 439-480

(9)

Power Of States^b,t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 77

9/2

Not really gone close to winning in a trio of handicaps this year at up to 12f still looking in good form last time at Ascot (came from well back). 0-8 in handicaps the assessor may well have him where he wants him for now, place claims at best.

Form: 820-634

(1)

Snow Ocean¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Harry Bentley| T: P D Evans| OR: 74

4/1

Kept on well at Sandown (10f) last time doing bets of those who pushed the pace (well-drawn to go forward here). Needs to settle a little better for everything to fall into place but looks well weighted having slipped below his last winning mark.

Form: 4-56635

(7)

Stringybark Creek³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: D Loughnane| OR: 72

25/1

Not really got going this year although he wasn't disgraced last time at Chepstow (7.1f) when not ideally placed to mount a challenge. Back on his last winning mark which gives him claims although all his winning form has come at shorter trips.

Form: 38-0464

(3)

Pacino⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70

15/2

Showed that he had benefitted from his reappearance when second at Haydock (8.2f) last time albeit he was running off a career-low mark. Eligible for lesser handicaps than this he's 0-7 at this course, does have to prove he stays this 10f trip.

Form: 5680-82

(10)

Dalanijujo²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: M R Channon| OR: 78

10/3

Proof that she stays this far came last time at Windsor where she was asked to come from a long way back (fared best of those held up). Still low-mileage (this will be just third handicap), interesting sort despite the problematic wide draw.

Form: 165-83

(2)

Mr Jones And Me^t1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 70

50/1

Two poor runs this year have offered further signs that he's going the wrong way, yet to win a race (0-3 in handicaps). Tongue-tie on for first-time (cheekpieces tried before), hard to work up much enthusiasm on the current evidence.

Form: 2340-70

(8)

Bell Heather^p,t1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Megan Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 59

16/1

Seventeen visits to this venue have yet to yield a win, comes here off the back of a poor effort having been previously been in good heart this year. Usually wears headgear (visor last four runs), new combination now reached for, not one to trust.

Form: 253426

(4)

Red Derek⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: L Williamson| OR: 58

12/1

Not hard to excuse last week's flop at Haydock (10.2f) when hampered but harder to do the same for some earlier modest efforts. Still searching for an elusive first win (0-8) and that won't be easy here from 3lb out of the handicap.

Form: 60-9325

(6)

G For Gabrial^p²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: J Quinn| T: R A Fahey| OR: 62

33/1

Beverley (7.4f) juvenile winner in a fairly busy 2yo season, showed some fair form this year at Musselburgh (8f) without looking happy on that track. Didn't look particularly at home here last year either (0-5), something to prove overall.

Form: 365-740

Non-Runners

(5)

Mr Coco Bean¹⁶

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: T D Barron J: K Stott

Forecasts

Dalanijujo (10/3), Snow Ocean (4/1), Power Of States (9/2), Olympic Conqueror (6/1), Pacino (15/2), Red Derek (12/1), Mr Coco Bean (12/1), Bell Heather (16/1), Hot Team (16/1), Stringybark Creek (25/1), Mutaabeq (33/1), G For Gabrial (33/1), Hillwalker (40/1), Mr Jones And Me (50/1)

The usual plethora of runners from owner Marwan Koukash with Pacino looking to be the best of his quartet having shaped well on his last two starts since returning although there would still be doubts over his stamina at this trip. The draw may have foiled the aspirations of the lightly-raced Dalanijujo (looks best of the 3yo’s) and Olympic Conqueror but not the well-drawn SNOW OCEAN who is well placed to execute his prominent tactics that saw him run well at Sandown last time. Power Of States has claims on his last run although he could do with some help from the handicapper while Mr Coco Bean is well handicapped if returning to form.