15:40 Chester

Saturday 25 June 2022

All13:5514:3015:1015:4016:1516:4517:20

Chandon Garden Spritz Handicap

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 1m 26.3s

(5)

Absolute Ruler^t1⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D Nolan| T: J Candlish| OR: 98

66/1

Fair 1m juvenile winner for Donnacha O'Brien but below par seventh in Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown in April. Tongue strap on for yard/handicap debut and more is required.

Form: 130-67

(6)

Dig Two^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dane O'Neill| T: H Palmer| OR: 93| D

12/1

Resumed winning ways in first-time cheekpieces in 4-runner handicap at Musselburgh (7.2f) 21 days ago. Can't be ruled out with headgear retained.

Form: 202-701

(2)

Evocative Spark^t³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P Cosgrave| T: G Boughey| OR: 90| BF| D

16/5

Scored at Beverley in April but he came in only ninth of 10 in handicap at Goodwood (7f) 35 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 142-219

(1)

Hebrides^p1²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: W J Haggas| OR: 89| D

5/4

Improved further as he made a successful start in handicaps at Newbury (7f) 25 days ago, sharing spoils on the line. Cheekpieces go on now and he's a player in his bid for a four-timer.

Form: 31-11

(3)

John The Baptist⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Theodore Ladd| T: M Appleby| OR: 89| D

20/1

Curragh debut 7f winner but he's yet to beat a rival in two runs this term for Fozzy Stack. Needs to hit the ground running for his new handler.

Form: 18-80

(7)

Roman Dragon¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S De Sousa| T: H Palmer| OR: 84| C

3/1

Course winner who arrives on the back of good fourth of 12 in handicap here (7.6f) 14 days ago. He's not taken lightly off an unchanged mark.

Form: 2076-24

(4)

Giewont^e/c,t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J F Egan| T: Darryll Holland| OR: 82| D

14/1

Bagged his third win of 2022 at Wolverhampton in May. 7/1, not disgraced when hard-pulling fourth of 5 in handicap at Chelmsford City (8f) 23 days ago, needing stronger gallop, so he's in the mix.

Form: 113614

Forecasts

Hebrides (5/4), Roman Dragon (3/1), Evocative Spark (16/5), Dig Two (12/1), Giewont (14/1), John The Baptist (20/1), Absolute Ruler (66/1)

A competitive handicap but HEBRIDES arrives on the up and, with the fitting of cheekpieces expected to eke out some more improvement, he gets the vote. Roman Dragon is weighted to have a big say and rates the chief threat to Willie Haggas' improver, although Giewont should be on the premises too if settling better here.