15:45 Chester

Saturday 28 May 2022

All14:0114:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

ICM Stellar Sports Handicap

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 1m 33.42s

(11)

Humanitarian^h,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Luke Catton⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 103| D

200/1

Smart on his day for John Gosden but seen out only 3 times since September 2020 and both starts for this stable were underwhelming.

Form: 771/0-79

(8)

Pensiero D'Amore^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: P Cosgrave| T: M Botti| OR: 102| D

66/1

Winner at Kempton in March, but that's very much a standout effort this term, never a threat back on turf at Newmarket 2 weeks ago.

Form: 0-00185

(4)

Azano^t¹⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| D

25/1

Useful up to 1m and made all in listed event at Redcar in October. Didn't look at home at this track last summer, however.

Form: 323108-

(10)

Spirit Of Light^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: F Norton| T: Ian Williams| OR: 100

28/1

Useful gelding in the UAE who scored over 7f at Abu Dhabi in November. However, cut little ice on yard debut at Ascot 3 weeks ago.

Form: 3-62090

(7)

Tomfre⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 97

8/1

Seven wins from 26 Flat runs. All the better for return when seventh of 13 in handicap at York (7f, good to soft) 7 days ago and could build on that again eased 2 lb.

Form: 8520-87

(5)

Fools Rush In^p,t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S Donohoe| T: H Palmer| OR: 95| CD

11/2

Enjoyed a fruitful campaign last season, scoring 4 times, including over C&D in August. Shaped well when fourth here on return and entitled to build on that.

Form: 11028-4

(2)

Boardman¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95| CD

11/8

Completed hat-trick in this race last season and 2 wins from 4 runs this year, career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Thirsk (7f, good to firm, 13/8) 14 days ago with more in hand than the bare margin suggests. In terrific form so has to be taken seriously from low draw.

Form: 50-4151

(3)

Oh This Is Us¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Hannon| OR: 92| CD

7/1

Veteran who bagged a Listed and Group 3 event in the first half of 2021. Signs of decline since, though showed he can still be competitive from this sort of mark when third at Haydock on penultimate start and is a dual C&D winner.

Form: 867037

(1)

Mykonos St John^p⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 83| D

13/2

Kept busy at York this month and not disgraced when seventh of 20 last week. This sharper track may not be ideal.

Form: 070237

(9)

Gabrial The Wire²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| CD

20/1

Back to form from out of the blue to end 2021 with a 7f Doncaster success (heavy) in October. C&D winner who shaped as if needing the run after 6 months off here 24 days ago, also not seen to best effect having been caught wide.

Form: 69071-6

(6)

Devilwala⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: J F Egan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 81

22/1

Ended last term out of sorts for David Loughnane and not much encouragement for new yard this season.

Form: 600-400

Forecasts

Boardman (11/8), Fools Rush In (11/2), Mykonos St John (13/2), Oh This Is Us (7/1), Tomfre (8/1), Gabrial The Wire (20/1), Devilwala (22/1), Azano (25/1), Spirit Of Light (28/1), Pensiero D'Amore (66/1), Humanitarian (200/1)

BOARDMAN arrives at the top of his game so is taken to repeat last year's success off what remains a workable mark. Fools Rush In shaped well when beaten a length over this C&D on return 3 weeks ago and any improvement on that should see him go very close. Oh This Is Us has a good record here and makes e/w appeal at bigger odds.