15:10 Chester

Saturday 30 September 2023

All13:3014:0514:3515:1015:4516:2016:5317:28

Boodles Handicap

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 1m 4.83s

(3)

Dream Composer¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: D C Costello| T: H J Evans| OR: 93| D

5/1

Has shown improved form this year, bagging his third handicap success of the campaign at Sandown in July. Not on a going day in the Portland at Doncaster last time but he's the type to bounce back.

Form: 010830

(4)

Lord Riddiford³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: F Norton| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 91| BF| D

14/1

Latest win at Goodwood in August. 5/2, 2¾ lengths sixth of 7 to Lihou back at Goodwood (5f, heavy) since.

Form: 380016

(8)

Roman Dragon¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Hayley Turner| T: H Palmer| OR: 91| C

4/1

Five-time winner over 6f here, the latest a 7-runner event on soft a fortnight ago. His record here affords him plenty of respect but he's drawn wide tackling a bare 5f for the first time.

Form: 541221

(5)

Democracy Dilemma^v²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: J Fanning| T: P D Evans| OR: 92| CD

4/1

C&D winner in 2022 and has 3 5f handicap wins this year. Respectable fifth of 12 in handicap at Haydock (5f, good to firm, 14/1) 21 days ago, going off too hard. Will take some pegging back if he can get to the front from stall 5.

Form: 853165

(6)

Lihou²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: P D Evans| OR: 85| C| D

18/1

Course winner. Five wins from 14 runs this year, the latest at Goodwood in August. Latest Haydock run best ignored as he was caught wide of where the main action unfolded.

Form: 025518

(9)

Seantrabh²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁵⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 80| CD

6/1

Career best when winning 11-runner C&D handicap (good to soft, 15/2) 28 days ago. Managed to overcome an identical stall 9 on that occasion but it's still not ideal.

Form: 449531

(1)

Count D'Orsay^p¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| CD

7/2

C&D winner. Good second of 9 in handicap at Beverley (5f, heavy, 9/2) 10 days ago. Has the inside stall and much respected after just a 1 lb nudge.

Form: 055352

(7)

Thankuappreciate⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: D Carroll| OR: 74

11/1

Just a 6f novice win to his name but plenty of creditable efforts in sprint handicaps this year, including when fifth of 11 at Carlisle (6f, good) on his first run for Declan Carroll. Ran poorly at York last weekend, though.

Form: 323450

Non-Runners

(2)

The Defiant¹⁵

Weight: 8-7| Age: 7

T: L A Dace J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Count D'Orsay (7/2), Democracy Dilemma (4/1), Roman Dragon (4/1), Dream Composer (5/1), Seantrabh (6/1), Thankuappreciate (11/1), Lord Riddiford (14/1), Lihou (18/1), The Defiant (33/1)

Although he rather overdid things in front at the May meeting this track should be tailormade for DEMOCRACY DILEMMA and he could take a bit of stopping if he can get across and grab the rail from stall 5. Dream Composer is a lot better than he showed in the Portland and is second choice ahead of Count d'Orsay.