15:15 Chester

Friday 12 May 2023

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

tote Chester Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 4m 15.48s

(5)

Rajinsky⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Harry Davies⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 108

14/1

Third in this last year and better than ever when proving too strong for Trueshan in a Nottingham listed race on his reappearance in April. Faded in uncharacteristically tame fashion when last of 6 in Sagaro at Ascot last week but he's not the type to stay down for long.

Form: 3419-16

(4)

Falcon Eight^v¹³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: R L Moore| T: D K Weld| OR: 108| CD

7/1

Won this off a 4lb lower mark on his 2021 reappearance and creditable fifth off 1 lb higher last year. Hard to argue he has much in hand of his mark but clearly suited to the demands of this race and likely to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 546518-

(9)

Reshoun^p²³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: P Morris| OR: 103

100/1

Smart staying handicapper for Ian Williams but his Chester record isn't great and he can only be watched on his reappearance for a new yard.

Form: 215340-

(8)

Tritonic^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A King| OR: 102

9/1

Won on the Flat at Goodwood (1½m) last autumn. Not at very best over hurdles subsequently but last month's fourth in a 2½m handicap at Aintree's Grand National meeting was a step back in the right direction and he's unexposed as a stayer on the Flat.

Form: 448/210-

(13)

Euchen Glen³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 101

18/1

Last win in 2021 but he was placed at Glorious Goodwood and shaped well in the Ebor at York last summer. Showed there's still plenty of life in his 10-y-o legs when fourth on Musselburgh return over Easter and could go close if things fall right.

Form: 73265-4

(6)

Calling The Wind⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: R Hughes| OR: 100

13/2

Won a Glorious Goodwood handicap and placed in the Cesarewitch and November Handicap in an excellent 2021 campaign. Didn't quite reach the same heights last year but shaped as if back in form when close fourth in 2m Wolverhampton conditions race on reappearance. Interesting contender.

Form: 43370-4

(16)

The Grand Visir^p³⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 97

33/1

No win since landing the Ascot Stakes at the 2019 Royal meeting. Good second to Falcon Eight in the 2021 running of this but not seen since finishing mid-field in last year's renewal. Draw could make life awkward. Others are preferred.

Form: 2036/69-

(14)

Metier^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Saffie Osborne| T: H Fry| OR: 97| D

5/1

Smart hurdler who revelled in very testing ground when making winning return to Flat in November Handicap at Doncaster. Bit disappointing over hurdles/on AW Flat over the winter but better signs when second of 14 to Wise Eagle in Musselburgh handicap over Easter. The more rain the better for him.

Form: 275/1-82

(10)

Vino Victrix²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Benoit D L Sayette⁽³⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 95| BF

18/1

Enjoyed a productive 2022 campaign, winner of 2m Goodwood handicap and runner-up on 3 occasions, most notably in Cesarewitch at Newmarket. Likely still on a workable mark but he ran poorly when faced with heavy ground on his Newbury reappearance so conditions a worry if the forecast rain arrives.

Form: 22124-8

(3)

Zoffee²¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: B A Curtis| T: H Palmer| OR: 93

11/1

Had a very good spell back on the Flat for this yard last year, winning twice at up to 2m and fourth in the Cesarewitch on final start. Locally trained and reasonable to assume he'll be well primed for this reappearance. Each-way claims.

Form: 113734-

(15)

Bascule^b⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Billy Loughnane⁽³⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 91

33/1

Useful stayer but his best efforts have been reserved for AW and Calling The Wind looks a more obvious contender for the stable.

Form: 45024-3

(17)

Almuhit^p⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: J M Sheridan⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 92| BF

28/1

Quite useful on the Flat for the Gosden stable in 2022. Achieved only fair form in juvenile hurdles for current connections over the winter but he may fare better back on the level.

Form: 48123-

(7)

Law Of The Sea^t⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: F Norton| T: Ian Williams| OR: 90

40/1

Useful at up to 1¾m for the Gosden stable. Disappointing in 2 outings for Bhupat Seemar in Dubai at the start of 2023 but joined a shrewd stable and Franny Norton booked so he's worth a second look in the betting.

Form: 65/53-00

(1)

Emiyn²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Harrison Shaw| T: D Carroll| OR: 89| CD

9/1

Front-runner with a good track record, including a win over this trip last September (also fourth in last year's Plate). Needs to shrug off a disappointing effort at Thirsk 3 weeks ago but his course form affords him respect.

Form: 4213-59

(2)

Call My Bluff^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: J F Egan| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 88| C

11/4

Has a win and 2 good placed efforts to show for his 3 visits to Chester. Couldn't live with a big improver on his Newbury reappearance 3 weeks ago but pulled well clear of the rest. Much respected for a stable which has made a tremendous start to the season.

Form: 40320-2

(11)

Al Zaraqaan⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: L F Roche| T: S England| OR: 87| D

80/1

Useful on AW Flat. Also won 4 times over hurdles hurdles in the second half of 2022. Respectable second in Fakenham claiming hurdle last month (final start for Archie Watson). Lower mark on turf compared to AW but others have less to prove.

Form: 626970-

Non-Runners

(12)

Aztec Empire²¹

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

Forecasts

Call My Bluff (11/4), Metier (5/1), Calling The Wind (13/2), Falcon Eight (7/1), Emiyn (9/1), Tritonic (9/1), Zoffee (11/1), Rajinsky (14/1), Aztec Empire (16/1), Euchen Glen (18/1), Vino Victrix (18/1), Almuhit (28/1), Bascule (33/1), The Grand Visir (33/1), Law Of The Sea (40/1), Al Zaraqaan (80/1), Reshoun (100/1)

The Dominic Ffrench Davis stable has been knocking in the winners on a regular basis this spring so the vote goes to CALL MY BLUFF, who has a good course record, ran well on his recent Newbury reappearance and won't be inconvenienced if the ground goes soft. Calling The Wind and Euchen Glen are the sorts who will need things to drop right but are more than capable of going close off their current marks if they do. Zoffee and 2021 winner Falcon Eight are others likely to be in the shake-up.