14:50 Chester

Friday 10 September 2021

All13:5014:2014:5015:2516:0016:3017:05

HomeServe Handicap

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 2m 10.45s

(1)

Mr Excellency¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 87| D

7/1

Building up a consistent profile, landing back-to-back 10f handicaps this summer and ran up to best when 2 lengths third of 4 at Goodwood (9.9f) last month. Should give his running again.

Form: 641193

(3)

Fast Steps^p¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 83

4/1

Epsom novice winner (8.5f) in April who has hit the frame on 3 of his 4 starts since, beaten only a neck by a fellow 3-y-o back at that venue (10f) 11 days ago. He's not yet fully exposed.

Form: 2-13372

(7)

Farhan³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P Cosgrave| T: J Butler| OR: 83| D

4/1

Pontefract novice winner on final 2-y-o start and improved form in defeat this year, staying on to take second at Sandown (10f) 5 weeks ago. However, he looks worth a crack at 1½m on that evidence.

Form: 331-242

(4)

Rival²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 83| CD

15/2

Opened his account from 5 lb lower over C&D in May but ran below that level on 2 of his 3 starts since, possibly doing too much in front at Lingfield latest. Likely he'll face competition for the lead

Form: 3-41639

(5)

Qaasid⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 82| BF

11/2

Kempton novice winner (1m) at 2 yrs who has run to a similar level in defeat in handicaps this term, fourth in a C&D event in June. Since switched yards for 50,000 gns and it's still early days.

Form: 731-34

(6)

Noble Crusade¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 80

12/1

Doubled career tally under a change of tactics at Carlisle (9f) in July, staying on to lead final 1f. Not at quite the same level either start since but return to further worth exploring again.

Form: 134136

(8)

Freak Out²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gemma Tutty⁽³⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 78

22/1

7f winner as a 2-y-o who wasn't disgraced when third on yard debut at York (8.8f) in July. Easy to back and not in same form when midfield at Hamilton (9f) last time and back up in trip now.

Form: 427536

(2)

Bookmark⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: Hayley Turner| T: M L W Bell| OR: 59| D

7/2

Better signs when keeping on for second at Chelmsford (10f) 2 starts back and opened her account in emphatic style at Pontefract (10f) 7 days ago. Big shout under a penalty for all this is deeper.

Form: 8-46521

Forecasts

Bookmark (7/2), Farhan (4/1), Fast Steps (4/1), Qaasid (11/2), Mr Excellency (7/1), Rival (15/2), Noble Crusade (12/1), Freak Out (22/1)

It was only a maiden handicap BOOKMARK won at Pontefract 7 days ago but Michael Bell's charge could hardly have been more impressive in opening her account, eased down for a 17-length success over this sort of trip. Wisely turned out quickly, she may well be up to following up. Fast Steps may have more to offer and can feature, whilst the forecast good gallop should play into the hands of Farhan.