15:55 Chester

Saturday 11 June 2022

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Edinburgh Gin Boyzlife Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 3m 27.09s

(1)

Withhold^p²⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: R Kingscote| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 106| D

12/1

Smart gelding who produced best effort of last term when second of 20 over extended 20f at Goodwood in July. Never figured in Cesarewitch on his final start in October but this 9-y-o will find this less demanding on return.

Form: 2/84320-

(9)

Spirit Mixer¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| C

5/2

Son of Frankel who has took his form up a notch in recent weeks completing a quick-fire staying hat-trick in emphatic fashion over 13.4f here 2 weeks ago. Assessor applies further pressure but clearly thriving and big shout in bid to land 4-timer.

Form: 26-4111

(2)

Alfred Boucher⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: K Stott| T: Ian Williams| OR: 93

25/1

6-y-o who ended losing run over 1½m at Ascot last summer. Not disgraced in stronger company thereafter and likely his first start for 5 months at Epsom in April and he may well be sharper now starting out for new yard.

Form: 15593-8

(7)

It's Good To Laugh³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 93| C| D

9/2

Prolific upon joining this yard, gaining fifth victory on Flat/over hurdles in latter sphere at Catterick (19.3f) in January. Far from disgraced when midfield in last month's Chester Cup and he's still unexposed at this sort of trip.

Form: 5/9201-7

(4)

Oman^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 90| BF| C

5/1

Resumed with excellent second of 4 in handicap at Salisbury (14.2f) early last month, headed last ½f, but keeping on. Not in anything like the same form at Goodwood next time but interesting blinkers are reached for again. Bounce back distinctly possible.

Form: 3195-28

(3)

Merlin's Beard¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: George Rooke⁽³⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 86

8/1

Progressive from a low base in 2021, completing 4-timer at Wolverhampton (14f) in September. Continued good work this spring, winning at Lingfield prior to a good second at Newbury (12f) 11 days ago (clear of remainder). May not of done improving yet.

Form: 111-512

(6)

Soapy Stevens⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 86| C

11/4

Course winner who has made the frame on 3 of his 4 starts at up to 14f so far this campaign, creditable third at Epsom (12f) on his latest start 7 days ago. Present mark demands that bit more, however.

Form: 07-5323

Non-Runners

(5)

Zinc White²²⁶

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: G Lee

(8)

Mancini¹⁴

Weight: 8-2| Age: 8

T: Ian Williams J: K T O'Neill

Forecasts

Spirit Mixer (5/2), Soapy Stevens (11/4), It's Good To Laugh (9/2), Oman (5/1), Zinc White (7/1), Merlin's Beard (8/1), Withhold (12/1), Alfred Boucher (25/1), Mancini (25/1)

SPIRIT MIXER has returned an improved model this spring, completing a quick-fire hat-trick in good style over shorter here 2 weeks ago. He remains one to be interested in given how he quickened clear then and is fancied to make a bold bid to complete the 4-timer. It's Good To Laugh has been a real success story for Jennie Candlish and is feared, along with Merlin's Beard, who continues to go the right way.