15:40 Chester

Saturday 21 September 2024

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:4517:20

Boodles Handicap

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 1m 9.17s

(12)

Balon D'or^b,t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: S D Bowen⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 81| CD

13/2

Belatedly added to 2-y-o debut success when narrowly landing a 5f handicap in first-time blinkers here 3 weeks ago. Remains on a workable mark up 4 lb but stall 12 could prove to be a stumbling block.

Form: 092631

(10)

Count D'Orsay^p⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 74| CD

11/2

Boasts a pretty good record round here, notching second Chester success off 3 lb lower in July. Recent Doncaster efforts have been respectable enough but he's not ideally drawn and essentially looks vulnerable for win purposes. Yard also saddles Canaria Queen.

Form: 401556

(8)

Thankuappreciate⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Zak Wheatley⁽³⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 73| D

9/2

Winless since landing a Ripon novice at 2 yrs but he has posted a number of creditable efforts in defeat since, not least when going close at York in July. Has performed well both previous visits here and should be in the mix, provided he avoids traffic problems.

Form: 620404

(2)

Lihou²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: J F Egan| T: P D Evans| OR: 72| CD

12/1

Has won twice here in the past and capitalised on drop in grade when striking at Leicester (6f, good to firm) last month. Well-drawn for one who races prominently but he needs to shrug off what was a rather tame subsequent effort in a Racing League handicap at Southwell.

Form: 726310

(3)

Dolly Gray^t1³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Planas⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 70| D

25/1

Hit the target twice during 2023 campaign but she's failed to beat a rival home in 3 starts this season and now finds herself with a fair bit to prove. Tongue strap applied.

Form: 401-987

(9)

South Parade⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 71| D

9/4

Breakthrough success came in a 13-runner handicap at Thirsk (6f, good to firm) last month and has followed that with solid efforts in defeat at Newcastle and Doncaster (both 5f). Likely to give another good account, for all that stall 9 is not entirely ideal.

Form: 643132

(5)

Beauzon^h¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Ryan Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 68| D

125/1

Largely campaigned on the AW nowadays and he didn't show much at Nottingham in May, on what was his first run on turf for almost 2 years.

Form: 525776

(6)

Lahab¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Faye McManoman| T: M Wigham| OR: 67

13/2

Just the one win to his name from 16 appearances but new yard is seemingly close to finding the key to him judged on recent efforts at Newcastle (1m) and Newbury (6f, soft). Perhaps this speed test is what he wants and, if so, a bold show could be on the way.

Form: 777744

(1)

Smooth Silesie^b¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Mark Winn| T: L Williamson| OR: 68| D

25/1

Notched fifth success of what has been a very productive year when scraping home in a small-field Bath handicap (5f, good to firm) last time. 2 lb nudge fair enough and she has the plum draw but a clear career-best is needed now upped slightly in class.

Form: 341311

(4)

Maharajas Express^b⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: P Morris| OR: 66| D

80/1

Now 2 lb lower than for his heavy-ground Bath win for Jack Jones during the spring but he hasn't shown much in 3 runs for present yard.

Form: 754700

(11)

Al Shabab¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Rob Hornby| T: Ian Williams| OR: 63

80/1

Placed 3 times from 5 starts for Andrew Balding at 2 yrs but nearer last than first all 4 outings in 6f/7f handicaps for present connections.

Form: 02-0089

(7)

Canaria Queen¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 61| D

11/1

Successful at Wetherby (5.5f, soft) in April and shaped far better than the bare result last time at Hamilton (6f, soft) where she encountered traffic problems at a crucial stage of the race. Down another 1 lb and she's one to consider.

Form: 233707

Non-Runners

(13)

Hallowed Time⁸

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: D M Loughnane J: Cam Hardie

Forecasts

South Parade (9/4), Thankuappreciate (9/2), Count D'Orsay (11/2), Balon D'or (13/2), Lahab (13/2), Hallowed Time (10/1), Canaria Queen (11/1), Lihou (12/1), Smooth Silesie (25/1), Dolly Gray (25/1), Maharajas Express (80/1), Al Shabab (80/1), Beauzon (125/1)

It was a case of 'all dressed up and nowhere to go' for CANARIA QUEEN at Hamilton where she was travelling well approaching the two-furlong marker but then saw little daylight from that point until the race was all but over. Granted better luck this time, she could be the answer to this open-looking handicap. If Lahab takes to this speed test he will be a threat, while Thankuappreciate also has claims, along with the consistent South Parade.