16:55 Chester

Thursday 11 May 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:2016:55

Halliwell Jones Handicap

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 2m 54.77s

(5)

Struth²⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 86

7/1

Landed a Nottingham maiden (8.3f, good to firm) on debut last August and similar form when third in minor event at Epsom next time. Failed to progress upped to 1¼m in a Newmarket nursery when last seen in October and needs to have improved during the winter. Yard also saddles Demilion.

Form: 135-

(7)

Demilion²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 80

5/1

Winning handicap debut at Wolverhampton in January and backed that up with a good effort at Doncaster (10.2f, heavy) on turf debut back from a break in April. By no means disgraced at Newmarket since and this stiffer test should be in his favour. Yard has won 2 of the last 4 runnings of this.

Form: 373-124

(9)

Cantora¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: G Boughey| OR: 78

11/4

Promising type who won a brace of nurseries on slow ground last term. Back on the scoresheet when accounting for 9 rivals in good style at Beverley (1¼m, good to soft) a fortnight ago and, though now 11 lb higher in a tougher race, she is of strong interest upped in trip with Ryan Moore booked.

Form: 611-421

(8)

Dragonball Prince¹⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: H Palmer| OR: 78| BF

20/1

Stepped up on what she showed in novice company when a close third on nursery debut at Wolverhampton (8.6f) in November. Proved to to be a disappointment upped to 11f at Kempton the following month, though, and needs to raise his game back on turf. Yard also represented by Double Oran.

Form: 53534-

(3)

Double Oban²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 77

12/1

Bettered AW efforts when second in a 6-runner Redcar novice (1¼m, heavy) on turf debut last month. Shapes as though this trip will be within range now handicapping but, like stablemate Dragonball Prince, he needs to take a considerable step forward.

Form: 632

(2)

Nobody Told Me¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Finley Marsh| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 76| D

10/3

Found some improvement when opening his account in a 7-runner handicap at Doncaster (11.9f, soft) recently. Didn't do too much when hitting the front that day and 6 lb rise is hardly the end of the world, so there is certainly cause for optimism.

Form: 8664-41

(4)

Sovereign Spirit⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 70| D

4/1

Has improved of late, bagging back-to-back handicaps over this trip on the AW at Lingfield. If able to match that level of form now returned to turf, he's likely to make a bold bid to complete the hat-trick under a penalty.

Form: 50-5311

(6)

Burglar's Dream¹⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: David Egan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72

20/1

Left initial efforts well behind when second upped to 9f in a Redcar novice (soft) on final start of 2-y-o campaign. Gelded since and further progress could be on the way now faced with an even stiffer test on this handicap debut.

Form: 562-

Non-Runners

(1)

Forceful Speed³⁹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: G Boughey J: K Stott

Forecasts

Cantora (11/4), Nobody Told Me (10/3), Sovereign Spirit (4/1), Demilion (5/1), Struth (7/1), Forceful Speed (7/1), Double Oban (12/1), Dragonball Prince (20/1), Burglar's Dream (20/1)

The vote goes to the filly CANTORA, who had any amount in hand when scoring at Beverley and she is appealing with Ryan Moore doing the steering here, for all that an 11 lb rise in the weights asks a question. The hat-trick seeking Sovereign Spirit will be a danger to all provided he is able to continue the good work back on turf, while Demilion and Nobody Told Me are others to consider, along with likely improver Burglar's Dream.