14:10 Chester

Saturday 31 May 2025

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Ladbrokes Handicap

Off time: 14:14 | Winning time: 1m 28.86s

(2)

Witch Hunter²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Joe Leavy| T: R Hannon| OR: 105| D

4/1

Seventeen runs since last win in 2023. Respectable seventh of 17 in handicap at Ascot (7f, firm, 18/1) 21 days ago. This does represent a slight drop in class but he does need everything to fall right given run style.

Form: 3-62607

(7)

Fair Point²²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Edward Greatrex| T: R M Beckett| OR: 104| BF| CD

16/1

C&D winner a year ago and doubled tally in 6-runner handicap at Ascot in September. 24 lengths last of 13 to Ayada in listed race (12/10) at Longchamp (7f, heavy), possibly amiss. Off 7 months and revised mark doesn't leave much margin for error.

Form: 133120-

(6)

Never So Brave²³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 101| BF| C| D

10/3

Thirsk maiden winner who followed up in 7.6f course handicap last spring. 11/4, last of 10 in handicap at Ascot (6f, good to soft), finding little. Off 7 months. First run for yard after leaving Sir Michael Stoute (gelded) but has joined another leading stable.

Form: 116720-

(12)

Holguin²⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Faleh Bughenaim| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 98| CD

18/1

C&D winner. Cheekpieces on for first time, ninth of 11 in minor event at Al Uqda (10.5f, good). Off 149 days. First run for yard after leaving A. De Mieulle. Makes handicap debut and isn't an easy one to weigh up at present.

Form: 44/9317-

(4)

Telemark^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 98| D

17/2

Won twice in 2024 and made a sound return to action when seventh of 13 in handicap at Newcastle (6f, 12/1) 20 days ago, keeping on when hampered. Return to 7f should suit and he's one to be positive about.

Form: 00818-7

(9)

Kingdom Come¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: C G Cox| OR: 97| D

33/1

Regular in good-quality handicaps hit the frame twice on the AW this spring. Promised more than he delivered when eighth at Newbury (8f, firm, 28/1) 14 days ago and other more persuasive.

Form: 02-3408

(1)

Cerulean Bay¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

12/1

Racked up a hat-trick last summer. Low-key start to this campaign, eleventh of 14 in handicap (28/1) at York (7.9f, good) 16 days ago. 7f is his trip and he's just 1 lb above last winning mark.

Form: 1117-70

(5)

Rhoscolyn^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: C Horgan⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

50/1

Enhanced excellent Goodwood record under his preferred underfoot conditions in September. 50/1, 7¾ lengths eighth of 10 to Myal in handicap at Haydock (7f, good to firm) 35 days ago. Back down to last winning mark and rain in his favour.

Form: 1925-68

(8)

Bobby Bennu¹⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 97| C| D

9/2

Triple winner at 3 yrs and ran right up to form when third of 8 in handicap (10/3) at Wolverhampton (7.2f), despite being not ideally placed. Off 145 days and he's an unexposed 4-y-o on the up.

Form: 15521-3

(13)

Purest Time²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: Ian Williams| OR: 96

125/1

Third of 8 in minor event (84/10) at Lyon Parilly (5f, soft). Off 6 months. Significantly up in trip. First run for yard after leaving M. Delcher Sanchez and market can guide. Stall 13 a negative.

Form: 194703-

(11)

Myal²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Egan| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 95| D

11/2

Continued upward trajectory for win number 5 at Haydock in April. Bit below form eighth of 17 in handicap at Ascot (7f, firm, 10/1) 21 days ago, though raced closer to pace than ideal. Can make presence felt for all stall 11 isn't ideal.

Form: 111-318

(3)

Brewing^v1,t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: A J Farragher| T: W J Haggas| OR: 94| D

33/1

Six wins from 16 Flat runs. Latest win at Newcastle in January. Twelfth of 14 in handicap at Newcastle (8f, 40/1) 43 days ago. Visor on first time and return to 7f in his favour back on turf.

Form: 43-5170

(10)

Yanifer^h1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: H Bethell| OR: 92| CD

14/1

C&D winner. 14/1, bit below form seventh of 14 in handicap at this course (7.6f, good) 22 days ago. Hood on first time and he can step up on that reappearance run.

Form: 52158-7

Forecasts

Never So Brave (10/3), Witch Hunter (4/1), Bobby Bennu (9/2), Myal (11/2), Telemark (17/2), Cerulean Bay (12/1), Yanifer (14/1), Fair Point (16/1), Holguin (18/1), Kingdom Come (33/1), Brewing (33/1), Rhoscolyn (50/1), Purest Time (125/1)

There should be plenty more to come from TELEMARK as a 4-y-o handicapper and on the back of an eye-catching reappearance, he looks a fascinating contender. Bobby Bennu boasts a very similar profile so he's on the shortlist, while Never So Brave could be in for a productive campaign having joined Andrew Balding.