19:50 Chester

Friday 12 July 2024

All18:0518:4019:1519:5020:2520:55

Chester Handicap

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 2m 14.97s

(4)

Arthur's Realm^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 93| D

17/2

Bagged his second win of 2024 at Redcar in May but only ninth of 17 in handicap (20/1) at York (10.2f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 351519

(7)

Old Harrovian^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 88

9/1

Looked useful when a dual 12f winner in 2023 but yet to fire this term, only thirteenth of 17 in handicap (18/1) at York (10.2f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 7/116-00

(9)

Dream Harder^p1⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: Ian Williams| OR: 86| C| D

7/1

Took this 12 months ago and posted a solid fifth of 12 in handicap at Chelmsford City (13.3f) 5 days ago when left with a lot to do. Can go well with cheekpieces added.

Form: 307465

(8)

Bodorgan^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: C Hills| OR: 83| D

14/1

Back to winning ways at Windsor in June and followed it with a good second of 6 in handicap at Haydock (10.2f, firm) 20 days ago. Considered once more.

Form: 88-6012

(1)

Qitaal¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 82| BF| D

13/2

Started 2024 with 10f Doncaster success and largely in good form since, fifth of 7 at Newmarket (10f, good to firm) 13 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 624955

(3)

So Deuce^h³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 88

5/4

Improving Lope De Vega colt who easily got off the mark in 13-runner maiden at Leicester (8.2f, good to soft, evens) 38 days ago. Has more to offer stepping up in trip for his handicap debut. Big shout.

Form: 7-41

(6)

Grey Cuban^h1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: H Palmer| OR: 85

11/2

Got off the mark at Wolverhampton in April but only ninth of 12 in handicap at Royal Ascot (10f, good to firm) 20 days ago. Hood on 1st time with more needed.

Form: 83-1659

Non-Runners

(2)

Gloucestershire⁵⁴

Weight: 9-13| Age: 6

T: M Meade J: Tommie Jakes

(5)

Tele Red¹¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 7

T: K R Burke J: Sam Feilden

Forecasts

So Deuce (5/4), Grey Cuban (11/2), Qitaal (13/2), Dream Harder (7/1), Tele Red (8/1), Arthur's Realm (17/2), Old Harrovian (9/1), Gloucestershire (10/1), Bodorgan (14/1)

SO DEUCE looks to start life in handicaps on an attractive mark so is fancied to follow up his easy breakthrough Leicester maiden success. Last year's victor Dream Harder should ensure Roger Varian's Lope De Vega colt doesn't have things all his own way however. Tele Red and Gloucestershire also look ready to step forward and should be in the mix in a competitive handicap.