16:35 Chester

Friday 14 June 2024

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Close Brothers Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 1m 35.81s

(10)

Mr Squires¹⁰^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 66

5/1

Improved again when winning 8-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 10 days ago, easily. Carries penalty but remains a massive player back on turf. Stall 10 could be an issue, though.

Form: 763131

(8)

Roaring Ralph^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 70

17/2

Respectable 4¼ lengths third of 8 to Mr Squires in handicap (10/3) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 10 days ago, not ideally placed as the race unfolded. One to consider.

Form: 1769-73

(5)

Touchwood^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 70

9/1

33/1, eighth of 9 in handicap at Beverley (7.4f, soft) 16 days ago. Needs to leave that effort well behind.

Form: 128-508

(2)

Star Shield^p⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 69| D

3/1

Placed for the fifth time this season when second of 11 in handicap at Ripon (8f, good to firm) 9 days ago, conceding first run, too. Consistency hard to fault so he can give it another good go.

Form: 354362

(4)

Once Adaay^v,t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: Mrs I G-Leveque| OR: 67| D

7/1

Latest win at Chelmsford City in March. Wasn't seen to best effect when third of 10 in handicap (12/1) at Yarmouth (7f, good to soft) 18 days ago, denied a clear run.

Form: 101803

(6)

Serenity Rose^h¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: David Probert| T: K Frost| OR: 67

18/1

Didn't achieve a great deal despite finishing fourth of 10 in handicap at Yarmouth (7f, good to soft) 18 days ago. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 2100-04

(3)

My Honey B²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 62| D

8/1

22/1, eighth of 11 in handicap at Pontefract (8f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Should be at peak fitness now and she racked up a hat-trick last summer.

Form: 1490-68

(7)

Daisy Roots^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Cieren Fallon| T: A West| OR: 58| D

7/2

Another excellent effort when second of 12 in handicap at Brighton (8f, good to soft) 17 days ago, running on. Same mark so seems sure to be bang there.

Form: 40-4222

(1)

Red Walls¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: A Mullen| T: L Williamson| OR: 50

40/1

Three wins from 12 runs this year. Latest win at Wolverhampton in April. 12/1, below form seventh of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f) 10 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 749147

Non-Runners

(9)

Lockdown Lass⁶⁶

Weight: 8-11| Age: 6

T: G Hanmer J: Josephine Gordon

Forecasts

Star Shield (3/1), Daisy Roots (7/2), Mr Squires (5/1), Once Adaay (7/1), My Honey B (8/1), Roaring Ralph (17/2), Touchwood (9/1), Lockdown Lass (12/1), Serenity Rose (18/1), Red Walls (40/1)

DAISY ROOTS has been knocking very loudly on the door of late, runner-up on her last 3 outings and that elusive third win may well be forthcoming. Mr Squires and Star Shield also arrive in excellent order and head the opposition.