13:30 Chester

Thursday 9 May 2024

All13:3014:0514:3515:0515:4016:1016:45

CAA Stellar Handicap

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 1m 0.13s

(2)

Democracy Dilemma⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 97| CD

11/4

Useful gelding who tasted success 4 times last season, signing off with victory in 8-runner C&D handicap (heavy) in September. Not disgraced at Meydan/Jebel Ali for new stable earlier this year and return to handicaps rates a plus (also successful twice from 3 outings at this track).

Form: 1651-39

(1)

Roman Dragon⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Palmer| OR: 95| C

10/3

5-time course winner who returned to form from out of the blue when scoring at Sakhir in February before finishing a creditable third of 17 in handicap there (5f, good to firm) a fortnight later. Not seen since, but he's respected having landed the plum draw.

Form: 5800-13

(5)

Vintage Clarets¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| CD

8/1

Enjoyed a very successful 2023 campaign, scoring 4 times over 5f, and probably needed the run after 5 months off when well held at Pontefract last month. Excuses hard to come by at Ripon (5f, heavy) since, however.

Form: 5113-77

(9)

Spoof³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽³⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 92| CD

66/1

Won 4 times last season. Shot back up in the weights as a result and looked badly in need of the run after 5 months off when finishing tailed-off last at Pontefract (5f, heavy) just over 5 weeks ago. Likely he'll prove vulnerable to younger legs here.

Form: 19215-8

(10)

Changeofmind²⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Harrison Shaw| T: D Carroll| OR: 92| CD

14/1

Broke 2-y-o course record over C&D on sole start as a juvenile and returned from 10-month absence with comfortable success at Catterick (5f, good to soft) last April. Seen just twice at York after, so a watching brief is advised on return/handicap debut (has been gelded).

Form: 1/198-

(6)

Michaela's Boy^t1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 90| D

16/1

Went winless in 2023 but showed his usual spark for first half of contest before patently needing the run after 7 months off at Musselburgh (5f, good to soft) recently. Tongue tie on for the first time and handicapper has given him a real chance.

Form: 82800-0

(3)

Clearpoint¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: William Carver⁽³⁾| T: S Hodgson| OR: 89| D

8/1

Dual AW winner in the autumn who bounced back to form on just second run for current yard when third at Lingfield (6f) in March, though had the run of the race. Latest effort at Epsom easy to strike a line through (met trouble early) so he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 13-3834

(7)

Manila Scouse^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| D

7/1

Back-to-back wins at Haydock/Chepstow last August and shaped encouragingly after 6 months off when finishing runner-up at Wetherby (5.5f, soft) 11 days ago. Mark unchanged and he should be bang there with that under his belt.

Form: 63444-2

(12)

Night On Earth^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 82| CD

11/1

Scored at Lingfield (5f) in January and resumed winning ways back on turf at Epsom (5f, good) 16 days ago, Kingscote putting his early speed to excellent use and responding well when tackled approaching final 1f. Handicapper reacted with a 7 lb rise and the draw could've been kinder.

Form: 124221

(4)

Copper Knight^t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 8-4| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75| CD

12/1

Veteran who picked up another win at York in July before defying a penalty at Pontefract a week later. Below best towards the end of last season and probably needed the run after 6 months off at Beverley (5f, good to soft) recently. Career-low mark to work with.

Form: 50656-7

(11)

She's Centimental³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 73

66/1

Already hit the target a couple of times this year at Kempton (6f), latest after a longer break last month. Has been rated higher in the past so can remain competitive if building on that returned to turf (finished down the field both previous outings though).

Form: 819981

Non-Runners

(8)

Radio Goo Goo²⁶

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: P D Evans J: Callum Shepherd

Forecasts

Democracy Dilemma (11/4), Roman Dragon (10/3), Manila Scouse (7/1), Vintage Clarets (8/1), Clearpoint (8/1), Radio Goo Goo (8/1), Night On Earth (11/1), Copper Knight (12/1), Changeofmind (14/1), Michaela's Boy (16/1), She's Centimental (66/1), Spoof (66/1)

An ultra-competitive sprint in which the suggestion is top-weight DEMOCRACY DILEMMA, who won over C&D when last seen on home soil and performed with plenty of credit on both starts in the UAE earlier this year. Michaela's Boy showed his usual spark before tiring at Musselburgh last month, so he heads up the opposition sporting a first-time tongue tie, with Manila Scouse and Radio Goo Goo another couple fancied to go well, too.