15:42 Chester

Saturday 1 July 2023

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

Chandon Garden Spritz Handicap

Off time: 15:43 | Winning time: 1m 25.58s

(9)

Starnberg^b⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S Hitchcott| T: R Hannon| OR: 97| D

10/1

Form took off with comfortable wins at York (7f) and Nottingham (1m) in recent months. Found out in the Britannia at Royal Ascot last week but this is a bit less competitive. Drawn widest, though.

Form: 42-2110

(2)

Equatorial¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: R Varian| OR: 93| D

10/11

Plenty of promise when runner-up in maiden at Doncaster and novice at Newbury (both 7f) this spring and made no mistake at Salisbury (7f again) 18 days ago. From a leading yard and open to further improvement on handicap debut.

Form: 221

(5)

Tenjin^h²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P Hanagan| T: J Ryan| OR: 90

28/1

Kempton nursery winner for Marco Botti in 2022. Third at listed level on AW in March but has struggled on turf of late.

Form: 308689

(1)

Think Climate⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 88| D

18/1

Dual 7f AW winner at end of 2022 but well held in 2 conditions events this spring. Has been gelded ahead of this handicap debut after 74 days off. Too much to prove.

Form: 611-99

(4)

Misty Blues²⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87

14/1

Fairly useful performer at 2. Creditable 5¼ lengths fifth of 16 to Cold Case in listed Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar (6f, good to soft) on final start. Been off for 9 months and it may pay to look elsewhere this time.

Form: 132325-

(7)

Divine Libra⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: D C Costello| T: C Hills| OR: 85| D

6/1

Tanked along when winning 7f Catterick novice (heavy) on reappearance. Shaped better than result when 6 lengths fourth of 6 on 7f Newmarket handicap debut since and remains capable of better back from 56 days off.

Form: 24-14

(6)

Ararat⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Hayley Turner| T: D M Simcock| OR: 78| D

7/2

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Newmarket (7f, good, 17/2) 7 days ago, going with zest at the head of affairs and keeping on well. A 3 lb rise may not stop him.

Form: 202-551

Non-Runners

(8)

Seeking Gold³⁵

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: Tom Clover J: Non Runner

(3)

Distinguished Lady¹⁵

Weight: 8-7| Age: 3

T: Alice Haynes J: Rowan Scott

Forecasts

Equatorial (10/11), Ararat (7/2), Divine Libra (6/1), Distinguished Lady (7/1), Seeking Gold (8/1), Starnberg (10/1), Misty Blues (14/1), Think Climate (18/1), Tenjin (28/1)

A good 3-y-o handicap. ARARAT seemed suited to more positive tactics when getting off the mark in a 7f Newmarket handicap last weekend and might have got off lightly with a 3 lb rise. Equatorial should have more to offer on the back of his Salisbury novice win and is second choice ahead of Divine Libra.