16:25 Chester

Saturday 11 September 2021

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:5016:2516:55

Restaurant 1539 Handicap

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 2m 14.49s

(1)

Victory Chime^v²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 103| D

3/1

Scored at Epsom in April and turned in a career-best effort back in a visor when runner-up at Sandown 3 weeks ago, denied only on the line. Up 4 lb for that but should be in the mix.

Form: 120002

(4)

Faylaq^b1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: W J Haggas| OR: 98

6/1

Upwardly-mobile 3-y-o handicapper in 2019. Lightly raced since but smart effort when second at Ripon and backed that up next time. Rare poor effort last time so can bounce back in first-time blinkers.

Form: 6-32600

(8)

King Ottokar^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Spencer| T: C Fellowes| OR: 95| D

17/2

Posted two useful efforts in good handicaps to end 2020. Underperformed after 3 months off when seventh at Newbury (8f, good to firm) last month. Can get back on track with cheekpieces reapplied.

Form: 556-037

(7)

Spirit Dancer⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 93| D

5/2

Left reappearance effort in his wake when second over C&D in May and improved further to score readily at Newcastle (10f) 77 days ago. Likeable sort and claims from this 8 lb higher mark.

Form: 125-021

(3)

Group One Power³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 88| BF

7/2

Well prepared to make a successful reappearance at Epsom in April. Consistent rather than progressive since, though found his run of good form coming to an abrupt halt at Ascot last time.

Form: 123330

(2)

Jean Baptiste^p⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Nicola Currie| T: G Boughey| OR: 86| D

9/1

Opened his account for the year at Newmarket in May and ran respectably returning to a more suitable trip when fourth at Windsor in June, albeit carrying head bit awkwardly. Off since so best watched.

Form: 522154

Non-Runners

(9)

Palavecino³⁰

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: B J Meehan J: M Dwyer

(6)

Dark Pine⁶³

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: D Loughnane J: Laura Pearson

(5)

Restorer²²

Weight: 8-9| Age: 9

T: Ian Williams J: Andrea Atzeni

Forecasts

Spirit Dancer (5/2), Victory Chime (3/1), Group One Power (7/2), Faylaq (6/1), Palavecino (7/1), King Ottokar (17/2), Jean Baptiste (9/1), Dark Pine (12/1), Restorer (12/1)

Having been competitive from a mark of 105 back in April, William Haggas' FAYLAQ gets the vote to notch a fourth victory of his career having turned in a rare poor effort at Sandown 3 weeks ago. First-time blinkers go on and he can get back to winning ways from this sort of mark. Victory Chime finished runner-up in that same contest so he's feared most, ahead of Spirit Dancer and King Ottokar.