15:40 Chester

Friday 9 May 2025

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

Precision Facades Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 2m 9.68s

(1)

Flight Leader²⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 105| D

33/1

Useful performer in France for Andre Fabre, adding a fourth career success to his tally in minor event at Deauville (9.5f) last August. Came home last of 7 in Longchamp Group 3 final start and changed hands for 100,000 gns thereafter. Betting can point the way on return from 8 months off.

Form: 68/1517-

(9)

Take Heart²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Lee| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 98| D

4/1

Irish raider who defied a 3 lb lower mark at Goodwood (9.9f) last summer and showed benefit of his reappearance run when respectable sixth of 16 in handicap at Cork (10.4f, soft) 20 days ago, his effort flattening out. Certainly not out of things returned to a quicker surface.

Form: 8106-96

(7)

Penzance⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 97| D

12/1

Cashed in off a sliding mark at Chelmsford (10f) in March and he's remained in form since, having hopeless task from his position when fifth in last week's Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m) 6 days ago. Return to positive tactics will likely suit around here and step back up in trip will hold no fears.

Form: V6-4155

(11)

Grey Cuban^h⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 97| CD

6/1

Four wins from 9 runs last year (twice over C&D). Shaped as if retaining his ability after 6 months off despite not having much luck in running when seventh in Rosebery Handicap at Kempton (11f) 6 weeks ago and that ought to have teed him up nicely for this return to the Roodee.

Form: 11610-7

(8)

Auld Toon Loon^t¹²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 94| CD

18/1

C&D winner who failed to convince in 3 runs over hurdles but back on track for this yard, resuming winning ways at Bath (10.2f, heavy) in October. Acquitted himself well in stronger company final 2 starts but whilst he has form under these conditions his very best has come on soft/heavy.

Form: 574/143-

(5)

Warda Jamila¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 89| D

5/2

Built on several promising efforts when narrowly resuming winning ways at Haydock (10.2f) in September. Definite encouragement to glean from reappearance fourth at Epsom (10f) 17 days ago, making a promising move off a modest gallop. Respected for top yard who won this 12 months ago.

Form: 06317-4

(10)

Rathgar¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| OR: 88| D

6/1

Doubled his tally for 2024 at Yarmouth (1¼m) last July. Returned in good heart, matching his reappearance form granted the run of things when second of 6 in handicap at Epsom (10.1f, good to firm) 17 days ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 1278-52

(2)

Qitaal⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 87| CD

4/1

Registered a wide-margin victory over C&D last September and, back from 6 months off, ran right up to best when third at Doncaster (10.2f) in March. Run respectably in handicaps at Pontefract/Goodwood since but present mark does demand that bit more.

Form: 715-347

(6)

Let's Dream¹⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 81| D

33/1

4-y-o who landed a 9.9f maiden at Goodwood as a juvenile and best effort of last season (having been gelded) came when third of 6 in handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy) in October. Resumes with stable going well but he does need to prove he's as effective under these quicker conditions.

Form: 312/403-

Non-Runners

(4)

Mustazeed¹⁹⁵

Weight: 8-13| Age: 7

T: Harry Eustace J: George Wood

(3)

Andaleep²¹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 9

T: D & C Kubler J: R Kingscote

Forecasts

Warda Jamila (5/2), Qitaal (4/1), Take Heart (4/1), Rathgar (6/1), Grey Cuban (6/1), Mustazeed (8/1), Penzance (12/1), Andaleep (16/1), Auld Toon Loon (18/1), Let's Dream (33/1), Flight Leader (33/1)

Plenty arrive with claims including Irish-raider TAKE HEART. Successful from a 3 lb lower mark at Goodwood last summer, he's not been disgraced by any means on either start so far this spring and, with the forecast quicker ground here holding no fears, he's expected to make a bold bid. Warda Jamila, for the stable/jockey combination who took this prize 12 months ago, and dual C&D scorer Grey Cuban are others fancied to be in the thick of things.