19:25 Doncaster

Saturday 6 May 2023

All17:2017:5518:2518:5519:2519:5520:25

Watch Chester On Sky Sports Racing Handicap

Off time: 19:25 | Winning time: 2m 46.99s

(1)

Matchless⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J Candlish| OR: 84| C

15/2

Course winner. Good third of 7 in handicap hurdle (11/4) at Sedgefield (16.8f, soft) 97 days ago. Couldn't rule out back on the Flat.

Form: 330255-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(7)

Valsad³⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 84| D

6/4

Creditable third of 14 in handicap at Haydock (14f, good, 7/1) when last seen 10 months ago. Gelded since and will be a danger to all if fully tuned-up.

Form: 2/52143-

(3)

Billy No Mates¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Phil Dennis| T: M Dods| OR: 79| D

14/1

Seventh of 11 in handicap (10/1) at Thirsk (12f, heavy) 14 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. Still, he's entitled to come on for that seasonal reappearance and by no means a forlorn hope.

Form: 32/133-7

(2)

Haarar³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: H Crouch| T: M L W Bell| OR: 76

4/1

Seventh of 11 in handicap (6/1) at Nottingham (16f, heavy) 31 days ago. Back down in trip and claims if reproducing the form of his Newmarket near-miss in October.

Form: 31462-7

(4)

Aqwaam¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: Ian Williams| OR: 76| D

5/2

6/1, last of 6 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f) 16 days ago and others make more appeal on balance.

Form: 01085-6

(6)

Gibside²⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 69| D

28/1

Fifth of 6 in handicap (4/1) at Carlisle (14.2f, good to soft). Generally consistent last season and each-way chance if he's ready to roll following 8 months off.

Form: 214125-

Non-Runners

(5)

Lizzie Jean³⁵

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: I Furtado J: D Swift

(9)

Mabel Jane¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: W S Kittow J: L Morris

(8)

V Twelve²

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: E Walker J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Valsad (6/4), Aqwaam (5/2), Mabel Jane (10/3), Haarar (4/1), Matchless (15/2), V Twelve (12/1), Billy No Mates (14/1), Lizzie Jean (14/1), Gibside (28/1)

VALSAD'S truncated but promising 2022 campaign ended with a good third in a Class 2 handicap off this mark over 1¾m at Haydock in July. Dropping back in trip looks a good move and he may well have more to offer as a 4-y-o. Another who is likely to appreciate going back down in trip is Haarar, who probably found 2m too much of a test at Nottingham. He is second choice ahead of Matchless and Billy No Mates.