City Of Chichester Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 1m 42.74s

(1)

Escobar^t³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

4/1

Smart performance when winning 7f Ascot handicap last October. Yet to scale same heights this season (held at York on Thursday) but revised mark has kicked in and he's gone well here in the past.

Form: 400080

(3)

The Gatekeeper³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: C Johnston| OR: 94

13/8

Has won 7f handicaps at Newcastle and Newmarket this year. Cracking second in Golden Mile over C&D and shaped as if still in good form at York on Thursday. 2 lb higher off revised mark but suspect he'll go well.

Form: 030220

(4)

Ouzo⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: David Egan| T: J A Osborne| OR: 94| BF| D

6/1

Fourth in the 2022 Golden Mile here and had been running well before eased off (badly hampered) at Sandown last week. Respected.

Form: 236620

(2)

Thunder Ball¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Mohammed Tabti⁽⁵⁾| T: P & O Cole| OR: 93| BF

7/1

Proved better than ever when belatedly off the mark in 7f Newbury novice in May and backed that up when a fine fourth in the Britannia at Royal Ascot. Poor at Newmarket a fortnight ago but might not stay down for long.

Form: 32-0146

(5)

Sudden Ambush^t⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 86| CD

3/1

Going the right way, winning extended 1m Windsor handicap last month (third success of the year) and running well in first-time tongue tie in stronger race at Newmarket last week. Respected.

Form: 251612

Result Amended

The Gatekeeper - Original Position 2nd. Amended Position 1st.

Thunder Ball - Original Position 1st. Amended Position 2nd.

Non-Runners

(6)

Bless Him²⁹

Weight: 9-13| Age: 9

T: D M Simcock J: James Doyle

Forecasts

The Gatekeeper (13/8), Sudden Ambush (3/1), Escobar (4/1), Ouzo (6/1), Thunder Ball (7/1), Bless Him (7/1)

BLESS HIM (engaged here Saturday) had a hopeless task from where he ended up in the International at Ascot last month and could be the way to go in a trappy handicap. The Gatekeeper, second in the Golden Mile, can go well, while Sudden Ambush is also considered.