17:35 Chester

Saturday 29 May 2021

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Chester Bet Handicap

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 2m 46.07s

(7)

Snow Ocean²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: James Doyle| T: P D Evans| OR: 83| C

9/2

Successful on both visits here in 10.3f handicaps last season. By no means disgraced when fifth of 14 back at this venue last time and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 2-55485

(1)

Natty Night²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: J Mitchell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 82| BF| D

11/2

Bagged a couple of handicaps at around this trip for William Muir in 2020. Subsequently sold for 55,000 gns, but reappearance effort for new yard at Lingfield (13f, soft) was underwhelming.

Form: 71531-7

(9)

Heart Of Soul^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 82| CD

12/1

Has notched 2 of his 3 career wins over this C&D, the latest off a 3 lb lower mark in August. Failed to fire on seasonal reappearance here this month, but claims if able to bounce back.

Form: 21128-7

(5)

Toronto⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: P Cosgrave| T: D Loughnane| OR: 80

12/1

Maiden winner at 2 yrs for Aidan O'Brien in Ireland, but 0-6 for James Given last season and hasn't shown much in 3 starts for new yard this year.

Form: 740-670

(8)

Punting^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: J P Spencer| T: R Hughes| OR: 79

11/1

Returned to form in first-time cheekpieces when landing an 8-runner Chelmsford handicap (1¼m) recently. Only nudged up 2 lb, but more needed back up in trip in this more competitive affair.

Form: 55-6991

(2)

Arabist²⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 74| D

25/1

Haydock maiden winner for John Gosden in 2019, but hit-and-miss last season and jockey bookings suggest that he's the least fancied of the stable's trio.

Form: 9/83730-

(3)

Abel Tasman²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 65| D

9/1

Notched third AW success when arriving late on the scene to get the better of Clifftop Heaven (winner since) at Wolverhampton (1¾m). 3 lb rise fair and claims if able to back that up returned to turf.

Form: 31-4861

(6)

Soapy Stevens¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 75

5/4

Positive start to the campaign when going close upped to this trip on Doncaster handicap debut. Not in the same form next time at Salisbury, but it's still early days and he needs considering.

Form: 338-24

Non-Runners

(4)

Magellan³¹⁷

Weight: 9-11| Age: 7

T: P A Kirby J: Joe Williamson

Forecasts

Soapy Stevens (5/4), Snow Ocean (9/2), Natty Night (11/2), Abel Tasman (9/1), Punting (11/1), Toronto (12/1), Heart Of Soul (12/1), Magellan (16/1), Arabist (25/1)

The 3-y-o SOAPY STEVENS was beaten a fair way when fourth at Salisbury recently, but his Doncaster reappearance near miss was promising and he may well be the answer off a feather weight. Snow Ocean likes it round here and is second choice ahead of Abel Tasman, who looks the pick of the Ian Williams-trained trio.