15:55 Chester
Friday 15 September 2023
All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05
Expleo Handicap
- 3YO plus  |  Class 4  |  7f 1y  |  Good to Soft (Soft in places)  |  11 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 15:57Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 1m 31.08s
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Ended time with Archie Watson with a rare poor effort at Ascot. Has gone well fresh before but stall 11 makes life tougher.
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Tends to struggle for consistency these days but was right back on his game when recording a twelfth career success in 17-runner handicap (11/1) at Ripon (6f, good) 27 days ago. His task is to now back that up.
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Course winner who fared better than of late retired in headgear when fourth at Haydock in July. Followed that with a below-par effort at Carlisle 7 weeks later, though.
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Showed a good attitude to edge out an in-form rival at Chepstow in June and has held his form well since, finding only one too good at Chepstow (7.1f) on most recent outing. Likely to give his running once more under 7 lb claimer.
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Fairly useful performer in Ireland for John S. O'Donoghue who wasn't disgraced when seventh of 13 in 6f handicap at the Curragh (good) on final outing at the beginning of July. Subsequently sold for 30,000 gns and remains low mileage but stall 10 isn't ideal.
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Has a poor strike rate and failed to build on the promise of his Goodwood run when only ninth of 12 in 1m handicap at Ripon (good to soft) 27 days ago. Headgear back on.
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Has work to do from his current mark but wasn't seen to best effect when eighth of 10 in handicap at this course (6.1f, heavy) on reappearance 62 days ago, hampered over 2f out. The cheekpieces he wore there are replaced with blinkers this time.
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Seems to be building back up to something, finishing with running left when fourth in 11-runner handicap at this course (5.5f, good to soft) 13 days ago. Must enter the reckoning back up in trip.
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Made a winning start in quite taking fashion at Haydock last September, staying on strongly. Improved on that form when runner-up under a penalty at Doncaster 10 months later and ran too badly to be true on handicap debut since. Worth another chance.
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Bounced back to somewhere near his best when third in 11-runner handicap at Newcastle (7.1f) 7 days ago, clear of rest. Still early days with current yard and looks ready to strike soon.
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Turned in his best effort of the season from a career-low mark when second in 14-runner handicap at Southwell (6.1f, 9/2) 9 days ago, edged out close home. Back up in grade now but needs respecting all the same.
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Forecasts
Emperor Caradoc (11/4), Red Mirage (10/3), Evocative Spark (15/2), Little Boy Blue (8/1), Stone Soldier (10/1), Beauty Choice (11/1), Gis A Sub (12/1), Roundhay Park (12/1), Couplet (14/1), Song For Whoever (18/1), Orbital Chime (80/1)
The vote goes to EMPEROR CARADOC, who isn't long with his current yard and looks ready to strike again having returned to his best back at this trip at Newcastle last week. Evocative Spark wasn't able to open up fully at this venue on his most recent outing but still passed most of the field, while Beauty Choice is another to consider for all that this represents a step back up in grade.
- Emperor Caradoc11/4
- Evocative Spark15/2
- Beauty Choice11/1
Prize Money
1st: £7,328.002nd: £3,438.003rd: £1,718.004th: £860.005th: £428.00
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