15:20 Chester

Saturday 31 May 2025

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

King Kabs Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 3m 32.63s

(1)

It's Good To Laugh^p³⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: George Wood| T: J Candlish| OR: 82| C| D

14/1

Course winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2021. Respectable eighth of 16 in handicap at this course (18.6f, good to firm, 22/1). Off 12 months but given a chance by the assessor if all is well with him.

Form: 92228/8-

(9)

Percy Shelley^v²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: S De Sousa| T: James Owen| OR: 80

7/2

Sixteen runs since last win in 2022. Creditable third of 6 in handicap at Goodwood (16f, good to firm, 5/2) 28 days ago. May have more to offer for excellent yard so he's on the shortlist.

Form: 3625-73

(8)

State Legend³⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Joe Leavy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 79

25/1

Good fifth of 16 in handicap (28/1) at this course (18.6f, good to firm). Off 12 months so another with well-being to prove.

Form: 6150/85-

(6)

Wind Your Neck In¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 79

12/1

Tongue strap on for first time, second of 6 in novice hurdle (4/6) at Southwell (15.8f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Fitness assured but was out of form when last seen on the level.

Form: 2845-70

(4)

Hydroplane^t⁷³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: D Egan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 78| CD

16/1

C&D winner who didn't seem to do a lot wrong when second of 11 in handicap (17/2) at Goodwood (16f, good to firm) in May 2023. Off the track since.

Form: 616342/

(11)

William Walton^p1³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: J Mitchell| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 78| BF

5/1

Lightly-raced maiden who looked a shade rusty when third of 9 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f, 15/8) 30 days ago. Significantly up in trip with cheekpieces on first time and no surprise were he to raise his game.

Form: 6352-3

(10)

Dreams Adozen^v²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 74| C| D

4/1

Course winner. Creditable fourth of 11 in handicap (12/1) at this course (18.6f, good) 22 days ago. Chester regular who is likely to give it another good go.

Form: 297544

(2)

Oman^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Watson| T: A W Carroll| OR: 72| C

22/1

Reluctant individual. Course winner. Below form sixth of 12 in handicap at this course (12.3f, good, 11/1) 22 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 37717-6

(5)

Grey Fable^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Robbie Colgan| T: K Thornton| OR: 68| C

6/1

Back-to-back course winners over 12.3f. Ninth of 16 in novice hurdle (12/1) at Killarney (17f, good) 20 days ago. That will have blown away the cobwebs and he now tackles a new trip.

Form: 032112-

(7)

Lagoon Nebula⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: K Stott| T: A Kinirons| OR: 69

11/2

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. Improved to win 9-runner juvenile hurdle (28/1) at Cheltenham (16.8f, good) 44 days ago, battling well. Significantly up in trip and may have more to offer on the level.

Form: 64356-

(13)

Perseus Way³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: W Coltherd| OR: 68| D

80/1

80/1, last of 9 in handicap at Haydock (10.2f, good to firm) 35 days ago. Significantly up in trip with a lot to prove.

Form: 2123/99

(12)

Trojan Sun^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 58| BF

14/1

Latest win at Musselburgh in May. Creditable fourth of 8 in handicap (6/5) at Carlisle (14.2f, good to firm) 12 days ago, better placed than most. 3 lb out of the weights in a much deeper race.

Form: 33-5414

Non-Runners

(3)

Surrey Belle²²

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: A Keatley J: Nathan Evans

Forecasts

Surrey Belle (11/4), Percy Shelley (7/2), Dreams Adozen (4/1), William Walton (5/1), Lagoon Nebula (11/2), Grey Fable (6/1), Wind Your Neck In (12/1), Trojan Sun (14/1), It's Good To Laugh (14/1), Hydroplane (16/1), Oman (22/1), State Legend (25/1), Perseus Way (80/1)

A few of these have plenty to prove for one reason or another but PERCY SHELLEY showed more than he did on stable debut when third at Goodwood a month ago and a bold bid seems assured. Surrey Belle should be a factor again, while William Walton is the potential improver in the line-up fitted with headgear up in distance.