16:45 Chester

Wednesday 4 May 2022

All13:3014:0514:4015:1015:4016:1516:45

Stephen Wade Handicap

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 1m 31.76s

(1)

Ostilio^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: P S McEntee| OR: 84| D

25/1

Snapped a long losing run dropped to a claimer at Lingfield in January (final run for Archie Watson), but below form back in handicaps for current yard since.

Form: 150808

(6)

Paws For Thought¹⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 84| CD

9/2

C&D winner. Successful over 6f at this meeting (soft) on his 2021 reappearance. Largely below that level for Tom Dascombe later in the year but is well treated if reviving at the first time of asking for new trainer Donald McCain. Interesting runner.

Form: 474400-

(5)

Broken Spear^v¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁵⁾| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 84| CD

11/2

Won this 12 months ago and added to his tally in a big field at Doncaster last November (both soft ground). Below par on both starts since a respectable fifth in the Lincoln in March but back to 1 lb below last year's mark and a dangerous one to discount. Any rain in his favour.

Form: 41-6579

(12)

Roundhay Park²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Faye McManoman⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 84| CD

18/1

C&D winner off 2 lb lower last autumn. Beaten only 2 lengths when eighth of 12 on his 5f Beverley reappearance 21 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Draw could have been kinder.

Form: 05015-8

(11)

Ffion²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: D Loughnane| OR: 83| D

5/2

Several good efforts in defeat last season, including second in 1m Royal Ascot handicap. Also runner-up over C&D in the autumn. Capable when fresh and player under Buick if stall 11 doesn't prove too troublesome.

Form: 285323-

(7)

Big Narstie^p1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Hayley Turner| T: R Spencer| OR: 83| BF| D

9/1

AW maiden winner who was back to somewhere near his best when finishing a close-up sixth in a big-field Doncaster handicap (7f) on return in March. Not seen to best effect in small field when third of 4 at Wetherby since. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 0464-63

(3)

Gobi Sunset⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 83| D

15/2

Consistent on AW but yet to convince that he's as good on turf (below form at Musselburgh and Newmarket last month), so others make more appeal despite him being handily drawn for a prominent racer.

Form: 8-23286

(8)

Gabrial The Wire¹⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| CD

12/1

Back to form out of blue to end 2021 wiith a 7f Doncaster success (heavy) in October. This former C&D scorer retains handicapping scope after just a 2 lb rise (scored off 5 lb higher early last summer). Another to consider.

Form: 069071-

(2)

Roman Dynasty^p¹⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: J Parr| OR: 81| BF

11/1

No win since debut but he did post some good efforts off higher marks last year. Has a handy inside drawn and capable of having a big say if primed after 5 months off.

Form: 756526-

(9)

Gometra Ginty^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 81| D

50/1

Eight wins from 30 starts but didn't obviously shape as if her next success is imminent when last of 10 on her Musselburgh return 18 days ago.

Form: 21516-0

(14)

Freedom And Wheat^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Marco Ghiani| T: M Blake| OR: 79| D

18/1

Has run creditably on all 3 starts this year, including back on turf latest, but it's hard to be too positive about his prospects here after being handed stall 14.

Form: 12/5-342

Non-Runners

(10)

Animal Instinct¹⁸

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: David Egan

(4)

Smeaton's Light¹¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: M R Channon J: Charles Bishop

(13)

Mellys Flyer¹⁵

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: George Scott J: Tom Marquand

Forecasts

Ffion (5/2), Paws For Thought (9/2), Broken Spear (11/2), Smeaton's Light (11/2), Gobi Sunset (15/2), Big Narstie (9/1), Roman Dynasty (11/1), Gabrial The Wire (12/1), Mellys Flyer (14/1), Animal Instinct (16/1), Roundhay Park (18/1), Freedom And Wheat (18/1), Ostilio (25/1), Gometra Ginty (50/1)

PAWS FOR THOUGHT scored over 6f at this meeting on his 2021 reappearance so there's reason to think new trainer Donald McCain will have primed him for his first outing since November and he's 3 lb lower than last year so he might be worth chancing. Last year's winner Broken Spear, the Marwan Koukash-owned Gabrial The Wire and the returning Roman Dynasty head the dangers in an open finale.