14:35 Chester

Friday 9 May 2025

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

IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 2m 9.21s

(3)

Bolster¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: K R Burke| OR: 111| D

7/1

Returned last season with a bang to land handicaps over this trip at Pontefract (heavy) and Epsom (soft) in the spring and also bookended the season with another brace of victories, gaining listed breakthrough at Newmarket. Excellent record fresh but ground is a slight worry.

Form: 147211-

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(5)

Cairo^p,t⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 107

40/1

Capable of smart form and not disgraced when sixth of 8 in Singspiel Stakes at Meydan (9f) in March. It's now 14 runs since his last win however and others more persuasive in this company.

Form: 272-626

(4)

Certain Lad³³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: George Bass| T: J Channon| OR: 112| D

8/1

High-end handicapper earlier in his career and also successful in listed race at Compiegne in June. Brace of runner-up efforts in Britain before regaining winning thread back in France, this time in Group 3 company. Excellent return to action at Longchamp a month ago and he's a consistent sort.

Form: 21221-3

(6)

Liberty Lane⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: K R Burke| OR: 113

5/1

Put up one of the handicap performances of last season when a very good winner of the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (9f) in September. Ran to a similar level when second in Group 3 Darley Stakes there final outing and possible to excuse a low-key reappearance at Doncaster.

Form: 70212-5

(2)

Space Legend²⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 111| D

9/4

Confirmed debut promise when making a winning reappearance at Leicester a year ago and continued his progress when runner-up next 2 starts, reaching a smart level in King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. Shaped quite well in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York and can make a better 4-y-o.

Form: 2/12244-

(1)

The Foxes⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 115| D

13/8

Smart performer, winning the Dante at York in 2023. Failed to fire first part of 2204 but back on track when making all in listed company at Newcastle in November. Excellent fourth in Group 1 Hong Kong Cup a month later and continued at top of his game when second in H. H. The Amir Trophy.

Form: 09514-2

Non-Runners

(7)

Deepone³⁹⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: P Twomey J: Billy Lee

Forecasts

The Foxes (13/8), Space Legend (9/4), Liberty Lane (5/1), Bolster (7/1), Certain Lad (8/1), Deepone (10/1), Cairo (40/1)

SPACE LEGEND has a bit to find with a few of these on his return to action but he ended last year with an excellent 1½ lengths fourth of 5 to Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and this low-mileage 4-y-o definitely has the scope to go on this year. The Foxes hit the frame in a Group 1 during the winter so he demands respect at this level, with the likeable Certain Lad very likely to give his running.