13:30 Chester

Friday 12 May 2023

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

CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 1m 35.54s

(7)

Witch Hunter^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Hannon| OR: 103

50/1

Produced a career best when second in a valuable minor event at Newcastle over 6f last month. Assessor reacted and he underperfomed returned to turf/7f at Haydock a fortnight ago.

Form: 1-72020

(13)

Percy's Lad²¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 98| CD

8/1

Landed a pair of 1m handicaps at Yarmouth/Nottingham this time last year and back to form with a bang when making all over 7.6f here in August. Sound fourth at York final start and clearly very capable fresh `but dominating from stall 13 no easy task.

Form: 205194-

(4)

Boardman¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 97| CD

4/1

Shaped relatively well on return at Wolverhampton and didn't enjoy the rub of the green at all when mid-field in the Lincoln. Excellent fifth trying to win a Haydock handicap for the second time a fortnight ago and this previous C&D winner looks very interesting.

Form: 248-705

(8)

Gweedore¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: K Scott| OR: 96| D

6/1

Won 3 times in 2022 and reappeared with a career best to land 11-runner handicap at Musselburgh (7.2f) last month. Backed that up when second from revised mark at Haydock so clearly in great nick but doesn't have the services of excellent 5 lb claimer this time.

Form: 2153-12

(2)

Al Rufaa²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: C Fellowes| OR: 93

20/1

Lightly raced and attitude seemed to ger the better of him when trained by John Gosden. Changed hands for £50,000 but hood left off and he was never involved at Newmarket.

Form: 08429-9

(9)

Heat Of The Moment²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: B A Curtis| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 93

28/1

Half-sister to several winners and promising start to her career when landing a 6f Yarmouth novice on sole 2-y-o start. Pitched into pattern company for her 3 starts last season and reappearance run suggests her mark is slightly too high.

Form: 1/607-5

(10)

Red Mirage²³³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 92| CD

11/1

Hit the ground running for Andrew Balding, supplementing his AW win in this race a year ago. Solid efforts in defeat since and joined another good yard. Very capable fresh.

Form: 113244-

(6)

Revich^v²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Spencer| OR: 92| CD

9/2

Several excellent efforts despite failing to win in 2022. Probably needed the run when ninth of 22 in Lincoln at Doncaster on reappearance and duly stepped up on that when third at Newbury 3 weeks ago. Same mark here and has a good course record.

Form: 9838-93

(12)

Ffion¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D Loughnane| OR: 88| C

13/2

Successful over 7f at this meeting a year ago and better than ever when landing 12-runner contest back here in September. No impact in listed level the following month but this a more realistic assignment on return. Stall 12 isn't ideal.

Form: 075918-

(1)

Wobwobwob¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Leigh Roche| T: A Keatley| OR: 86

7/2

Catterick winner in October and didn't do a lot wrong when second of 7 at Leicester a fortnight ago. Same mark here and stall one an obvious plus.

Form: 3316-42

Non-Runners

(3)

Croupier⁴¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: S & E Crisford J: R L Moore

(11)

Street Kid³⁷

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: K P De Foy J: Non Runner

(5)

Royal Pleasure²¹¹

Weight: 8-10| Age: 5

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Wobwobwob (7/2), Boardman (4/1), Revich (9/2), Gweedore (6/1), Croupier (6/1), Ffion (13/2), Percy's Lad (8/1), Red Mirage (11/1), Royal Pleasure (14/1), Street Kid (14/1), Al Rufaa (20/1), Heat Of The Moment (28/1), Witch Hunter (50/1)

BOARDMAN has plenty of winning spring form to his name, including at this venue, and he should be spot on for this following an eye-catching run from a poor track position at Haydock a fortnight ago. He has plenty to recommend him, with Wobwobwob (from stall 1) and Croupier feared most.