16:05 Chester

Saturday 27 May 2023

All14:2014:5515:3516:0516:4017:1517:45

tote.co.uk Bet 5 Get 20 Handicap

Off time: 16:24 | Winning time: 1m 34.06s

(9)

Dawn Of Liberation²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Jefferson Smith| T: R Hannon| OR: 99| D

18/1

Useful colt who won conditions events at Doncaster (7f) and Goodwood (1m) last spring. Had wind surgery/off 10 months prior to beating only one home in 17-runner handicap at Newmarket (9f, soft) 3 weeks ago. Has it to prove now.

Form: 16147-0

(3)

Percy's Lad¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: B A Curtis| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 98| CD

5/2

Bounced back to form with a career best when scoring over C&D in August. Solid fourth at York on final outing last year and shaped well when third back over C&D on return, faring best of those ridden prominently. Shortlisted.

Form: 05194-3

(8)

Boardman¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Phil Dennis| T: T D Easterby| OR: 97| CD

6/1

Shaped relatively well on return at Wolverhampton and didn't enjoy the rub of the green at all when mid-field in the Lincoln. Lacked a bit of end product when fifth over C&D on his most recent outing but still needs taking seriously having won the last 2 renewals of this race.

Form: 48-7055

(11)

Street Kid^p⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Benoit D L Sayette⁽³⁾| T: K P De Foy| OR: 92

22/1

US bred who ran as well as he ever has after an 8-week break when second at Southwell in March. Did too much too soon at Kempton subsequently and now returns to turf with good-value claimer taking over in the saddle.

Form: 224-624

(4)

Red Mirage¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D Swift| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 92| CD

15/2

C&D winner who ran creditably on first run since leaving Andrew Balding when fourth in 10-runner C&D handicap (soft, 11/1) 15 days ago, suited by way race developed. Goes well at this track and should give another good account.

Form: 13244-4

(10)

Austrian Theory²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 91| D

33/1

Landed a Hamilton handicap in June but form tailed off towards the end of last season and has failed to beat a rival both starts this year. Plenty to prove.

Form: 3007-50

(5)

Carnival Zain⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Garritty| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 90| CD

8/1

Progressive in 2022, winning 5 times, but the handicapper seems to have caught up with him, running to only a similar level as on reappearance when seventh of 15 at Thirsk (7f) last week.

Form: 1215-57

(7)

On A Session¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Davies⁽³⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 90

10/1

Useful sort who capitalised on a drop in grade in cosy fashion at Musselburgh in April and shaped as if still in good form when sixth of 13 at Hamilton (8.3f) since, left with lot to do. Not dismissed under handy 3-lb claimer.

Form: 967816

(6)

Al Rufaa¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: K Stott| T: C Fellowes| OR: 90

14/1

Lightly raced and attitude seemed to ger the better of him when trained by John Gosden. Changed hands for £50,000 but hasn't fired both starts for current yard.

Form: 8429-97

(1)

Paws For Thought¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J F Egan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 80| BF| C

4/1

Hasn't won for a long time but shaped better than the distance beaten suggests after 7 months off when third of 14 in handicap at this course (7f, heavy) 17 days ago, ridden too aggressively. On a good mark and must enter calculations.

Form: 34952-3

(2)

Roudemental^t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: A Mullen| T: H Palmer| OR: 79| D

16/1

Fairly useful handicapper who ran well to be placed at Newcastle first 2 starts this season. Well held back on turf the last twice but was probably unsuited by testing ground.

Form: 37-2309

Forecasts

Percy's Lad (5/2), Paws For Thought (4/1), Boardman (6/1), Red Mirage (15/2), Carnival Zain (8/1), On A Session (10/1), Al Rufaa (14/1), Roudemental (16/1), Dawn Of Liberation (18/1), Street Kid (22/1), Austrian Theory (33/1)

PAWS FOR THOUGHT is on a good mark and, having shaped better than the distance beaten suggests over C&D on his return to action, he's put forward as the answer. Percy's Lad is another who shaped well over C&D on his reappearance, while Boardman can't be taken lightly having won this corresponding event the last 2 years.