14:32 Chester

Saturday 1 July 2023

All13:5714:3215:0715:4216:1716:5217:22

Ultimate Provence Handicap

Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 2m 41.68s

(1)

Zealandia^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 82| D

7/2

Creditable 1¾ lengths fourth of 10 to The Nu Form Way in C&D handicap (good, 14/1) 35 days ago. On that evidence, he appears to be returning to the boil and he's one to consider.

Form: 30/1-084

(4)

The Nu Form Way²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: S H James| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 78| CD

7/1

Won at Beverley in April and career best when adding to tally over C&D (Zealandia behind in fourth) in May. Badly hampered in the early stages back at Beverley since. Treated as if still in form.

Form: 0-51319

(5)

Croachill^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: T P O'Shea| T: R Varian| OR: 78

10/1

Creditable second of 6 in handicap at Lingfield (1¼m, good to firm, 3/1) 21 days ago, having run of race. Back up in trip.

Form: 236-632

(3)

Natchez Trace¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁵⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 77| D

7/1

Career best when winning 12-runner handicap (9/2) at Southwell (1½m) 18 days ago. Only nudged up 2 lb and claims if in similar form.

Form: 136-501

(2)

Restorer^p¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Sanderson⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 71| C| D

6/1

Chester regular but losing run dates back to 2020. Creditable second of 8 over C&D 14 days ago but might be vulnerable to some of the younger legs in this line-up.

Form: 230-732

(7)

Scintillante¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Hayley Turner| T: A M Balding| OR: 76

11/4

Scopey sort who showed improved form when second of 5 in handicap at Newbury (1½m, firm) 16 days ago, conceding first run. This lightly-raced 3-y-o should have more to come.

Form: 73-52

(8)

Paisano^v1³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: D C Costello| T: R M Beckett| OR: 74

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Blinkered first time, weakened into fifth of 8 in maiden at Catterick (1½m, good to firm) on reappearance 37 days ago. Visor tried now. Makes handicap debut. Needs to get his career back on track.

Form: 369-5

(6)

Blue Universe^p1⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 74

5/1

Much improved on return from wind surgery when scoring at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in April. Failed to translate that improvement to turf since, though. First-time cheekpieces replace the blinkers worn last time.

Form: 33-1205

Forecasts

Scintillante (11/4), Zealandia (7/2), Blue Universe (5/1), Restorer (6/1), Natchez Trace (7/1), The Nu Form Way (7/1), Croachill (10/1), Paisano (33/1)

SCINTILLANTE shaped promisingly at Newbury last time and might be up to providing Andrew Balding with yet another Chester winner. Zealandia looked on the way back here last time and may give the selection most to do ahead of recent Southwell scorer Natchez Trace.