13:30 Chester

Thursday 8 May 2025

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

CAA Stellar Handicap

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 1m 1.69s

(11)

Balmoral Lady¹⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 99| D

16/1

Four wins during a very productive second half to 2024 and cranked it up another notch when excellent neck second of 11 to Room Service in listed race at Doncaster (6f, heavy). Off 180 days but inflated new mark looks justified. Stall 11 may prove to be a bigger issue, though.

Form: 871112-

(8)

Dream Composer^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 99| D

14/1

Responded well to positive tactics and just about better than ever when winning 7-runner handicap at Pontefract in August. Ended 2024 with a brace of lesser efforts but cracking return to action when second at aforementioned track a month ago. Task is to back that up.

Form: 03100-2

(5)

Roman Dragon^p⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Palmer| OR: 95| C| D

8/1

Commenced 2024 with a win in Bahrain and repeated the trick with cheekpieces on in February. Shaped better than the bare result over 6f a fortnight later and while his mark looks stiff-enough back in Britain, he needs considering with Murphy taking over.

Form: 35-3519

(10)

Fair Wind²⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P J Dobbs| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 94| BF| D

12/1

Bagged 5f handicaps at Goodwood and Ascot last season but he refused to race in handicap at Goodwood (5f) in July and not seen out since. Has something to prove on his seasonal return.

Form: 1/2141R-

(9)

Jer Batt¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: T D Barron| OR: 92| D

10/3

Has previous in this race having shaped very well when second in 2023. Improved a lot since then despite winning just once and his return to action at Musselburgh 3 weeks ago was a very good one. Major player despite ordinary draw.

Form: 02402-3

(6)

Manila Scouse^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| D

25/1

Mid-field in this race a year ago and won a brace of handicaps during the summer. Usually needs a couple of runs to put him spot on for but he's failed to beat a rival both outings so far.

Form: 1000-07

(4)

Angel Shared²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: D Egan| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 82| D

6/1

Made a winning reappearance at Bath (5f) 12 months ago and completed hat-trick at Carlisle (5f) a month later. Proved well suited by the return to the minimum trip when second of 8 in handicap at Haydock (5f, heavy) in October and reappearance was a sound-enough run.

Form: 58302-3

(1)

Fair Taxes³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Saffie Osborne| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 80

3/1

Much improved when making a winning handicap debut at Fairyhouse (6f) in June. Solid rather than spectacular since but shaped on reappearance as though ready for a drop back to 5f and he's landed the plum stall.

Form: 10332-4

(12)

Balon D'or^b,t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: A Mullen| T: H Palmer| OR: 78| CD

50/1

Placed in the Lily Agnes 2 years ago and gained sole handicap win over this C&D in August. Looked in need of the run on last month's reappearance at Musselburgh and better expected this time.

Form: 63147-7

(7)

Dickieburd²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: I Furtado| OR: 77| CD

28/1

Nineteen runs since last win, gained at Newcastle in 2023. First run since leaving Craig Lidster when sixth of 7 in handicap at Beverley 22 days ago. Almost certainly needed that but step forward required with cheekpieces removed.

Form: 74259-6

(3)

Copper Knight^t¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 8-2| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 73| CD

9/1

Grand servant to connections, gaining fourth C&D win in June. Respectable third of 13 in handicap at Beverley (5f, good to firm) 14 days ago and clearly retains plenty of enthusiasm despite advancing years. 2 lb out of the weights.

Form: 07866-3

(2)

Rosenpur^h¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 72| D

12/1

Added to excellent Wolverhampton record and better than ever in the process when winning 7-runner handicap 17 days ago. This is a much deeper race back on turf and he's out of the handicap.

Form: 204321

Forecasts

Fair Taxes (3/1), Jer Batt (10/3), Angel Shared (6/1), Roman Dragon (8/1), Copper Knight (9/1), Rosenpur (12/1), Fair Wind (12/1), Dream Composer (14/1), Balmoral Lady (16/1), Manila Scouse (25/1), Dickieburd (28/1), Balon D'or (50/1)

Stall 9 could have been kinder for JER BATT but he shaped very well in this race in 2023 and with a sound reappearance under his belt, he looks primed for a bold bid. The return to 5f will suit Irish raider Fair Taxes and he has the inside draw to exploit, so he's on the shortlist, along with Dream Composer.