16:20 Chester

Friday 7 May 2021

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:2016:50

tote+ Chester Plate Handicap

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 4m 10.52s

(7)

Mancini^v²²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: M Dwyer| T: Ian Williams| OR: 94

40/1

Five-time winner for Jonathan Portman and off the mark for present connections at Sandown last July. Off track since last of 12 in 1m6f handicap here 7 months ago so needs to hit the ground running.

Form: 496130-

(10)

Elysian Flame^p²¹^{(ex 3)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 91

9/2

Useful stayer who followed up recent hurdles win with 2m Newbury success (first-time cheekpieces on Flat), front two well clear. Big player under mere 3 lb penalty with this longer trip sure to suit.

Form: 6132/3-1

(3)

Indianapolis^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: P J McDonald| T: Ian Williams| OR: 93

17/2

Dual 12f winner in 2019 and good efforts to make the frame at York/Haydock last term for James Given. Looked rusty after 5 months off on yard bow at Musselburgh and no forlorn hope off reduced mark.

Form: 40300-9

(11)

Byron Flyer¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: Ian Williams| OR: 93| D

40/1

Useful stayer who arrives fit from hurdling, good second in 2m4f Sandown handicap 13 days ago. Not taken lightly back in this sphere. One of half dozen here representing this stable.

Form: 4/4755-6

(8)

Postileo³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 92| BF

4/1

Improving son of Galileo who returned with excellent second of 7 in 2m Kempton handicap, pair well clear. Hit with 6 lb rise but still low mileage and sure to go well again.

Form: 6231-2

(9)

Cleonte^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 90

12/1

Ended long losing run in 2m handicap at Kempton in March before good fourth of 14 to Elysian Flame in 2m Newbury handicap 21 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 65-5214

(1)

Brasca¹²^{(ex 3)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 87

10/1

Low-mileage 5-y-o who has returned in great nick after 19 months off, landing 1m4f handicap at Salisbury 12 days ago. Needs considering under 3 lb penalty with more to offer stepping back up in trip.

Form: 4512/21

(6)

Grandmaster Flash^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 89

8/1

Irish raider who arrives on a hat-trick after back-to-back wins at Dundalk this spring. Enters calculations returned to turf.

Form: 00-7311

(4)

Speedo Boy^t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85

16/1

Useful stayer at his best who returned from 6 months off with creditable third of 4 in handicap at Nottingham (14f) 10 days ago. One for the shortlist from yard's sextet if building on that effort.

Form: 0/5547-3

(13)

Ottonian^p,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: G Lee| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 83

100/1

Lightly raced stayer on Flat but he arrives in winning recent form over hurdles. Not discounted if translating that form back to the level.

Form: 11/44-

(5)

Hydroplane¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: B A Curtis| T: Ian Williams| OR: 78

15/2

Fairly useful on Flat for Sir Mark Prescott last term. Has enjoyed excellent 2021 for current yard over hurdles, winning three times, so worth considering back in this sphere. Pick of yard's six.

Form: 11282/3

(2)

Green Book⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: F Norton| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 77

5/1

Fair maiden for Brian Ellison in 2019. Several good runs on the level in France last year without winning and made good start hurdling for this yard with Hereford second in February. Possibilities.

Form: 264623-

(12)

Always Resolute^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 8-6| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 76| C| D

66/1

Veteran can boast a course win and he also got his head in front over hurdles at Newbury (2m4f) in March. Bit more is needed back in this sphere now, however.

Form: 1/67913-

Non-Runners

(14)

Frankenstella³⁰

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: J & S Quinn J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Postileo (4/1), Elysian Flame (9/2), Green Book (5/1), Hydroplane (15/2), Grandmaster Flash (8/1), Indianapolis (17/2), Brasca (10/1), Cleonte (12/1), Frankenstella (14/1), Speedo Boy (16/1), Byron Flyer (40/1), Mancini (40/1), Always Resolute (66/1), Ottonian (100/1)

A cracking Chester Plate in which ELYSIAN FLAME is hard to side against given he saddles just a 3 lb penalty for his useful win in a strong 2m Newbury handicap and promises better to come over this marathon trip. Roger Varian's lightly-raced Postileo is a likely improver too at this distance and feared most, although recent scorers Brasca and Hydroplane need a second look.