15:35 Chester

Saturday 29 June 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Patron Tequila Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 25.66s

(7)

Al Shabab Storm³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 91| BF

10/3

Won a 6f Goodwood novice on soft last autumn and arrives here having finished runner-up on each of his last 2 starts, not aiding his cause by hanging badly left back at Goodwood (7f) 5 weeks ago. On a workable mark and he needs considering.

Form: 214-622

(6)

Blue Prince¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Dylan Hogan| T: P D Evans| OR: 90

17/2

Enjoyed a productive spell on the AW for this yard over the winter and has come right back to form of late tried at this sort of trip, keeping on for third of 13 in handicap at this course (7.6f, soft) 14 days ago. Should remain competitive.

Form: 308333

(5)

Ziggy's Condor¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87| BF

7/1

Debut 6f winner who resumed from 8 months/gelded with a very good second in big field York handicap (7f) in May. Raced closer to the pace than ideal when down the field back there (6f) a couple of weeks ago and he has races in him this term.

Form: 123-20

(3)

Gunfighter^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Aidan Keeley⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 85| D

12/1

Two AW wins last year. Consistent in handicaps this time round, good third of 9 in handicap at Haydock (1m) 21 days ago. Drop back in trip will hold no fears but he may just be vulnerable to one or two again from unchanged mark. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 51-3343

(2)

Sunfall¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: W J Haggas| OR: 82| D

18/5

Ran out a comfortable winner on return in a Kempton maiden (7f) in April. Not seen to best effect on handicap debut at Newmarket a month later and firmly back on the up when making all at Sandown (7f) 2 weeks ago. Likely to progress further and player from handy draw.

Form: 4-101

(1)

Jungle Mac⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: J Channon| OR: 82| BF

2/1

Won a maiden at Chelmsford City (6f) in February and has been holding his form well since, just failing in 10-runner Newmarket handicap (7f) 7 days ago. Nudged up 3 lb ahead of this but has the plum draw/Franny Norton aboard and he's a lead player.

Form: 2-13432

(4)

Golden Pharaoh¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D Tudhope| T: S Dixon| OR: 81| D

28/1

Fairly useful performer at up to this trip in France who wasn't disgraced after 3 months off when ninth of 17 in handicap at York (7f, soft) on yard/UK debut 14 days ago. Entitled to be sharper here but little more needed if he's to come out on top.

Form: 3-51659

Forecasts

Jungle Mac (2/1), Al Shabab Storm (10/3), Sunfall (18/5), Ziggy's Condor (7/1), Blue Prince (17/2), Gunfighter (12/1), Golden Pharaoh (28/1)

A competitive 3-y-o handicap with the narrow vote in favour of JUNGLE MAC. He took a while to knuckle down when runner-up behind a less exposed rival at Newmarket last week (the pair clear) but that was still his best effort yet and the plum draw/Franny Norton in the saddle sways things in his favour. Sandown-scorer Sunfall is a chief threat from her handy draw. Al Shabab Storm and Blue Prince complete the shortlist.