15:55 Chester

Saturday 31 May 2025

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

Seat Unique Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 2m 41.8s

(9)

Box To Box²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: H Palmer| OR: 84| BF| C

4/1

Four-time course winner. Creditable seventh of 14 in handicap at this course (10.3f, good to soft, 10/3) 23 days ago, too lit up from a wide draw. Of interest dropped slightly in class.

Form: 4-08857

(4)

Per Contra¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| D

25/1

Fifth of 7 in handicap (25/1) at Hamilton (12.1f, good to firm) 15 days ago, weakening late on. Eased further 2 lb and not yet exposed for this yard.

Form: 1786-65

(1)

Dream Harder²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Egan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 83| C

5/1

Course winner in 2023 but twenty defeats since. 11/1, respectable eighth of 14 in handicap at this course (10.3f, good to soft) 23 days ago. Lurks on a good mark these days with cheekpieces left off.

Form: 2-63308

(5)

Spirit Of Acklam^p³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 83

9/2

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (6/5) at Ayr (10f, good to firm) 33 days ago, well on top finish. Tackles a new trip but may have a bigger performance in him.

Form: 0353-01

(3)

Charmaine²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 83| D

10/3

Strong at the finish and better than ever when winning 8-runner handicap at Kempton (12f) 26 days ago. 3 lb rise perfectly fair for in-form yard so major player.

Form: 142-811

(10)

Struth²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 82| CD

9/1

Temperamental sort. C&D winner. Nineteen runs since last win in 2023. Hooded for first time, last of 7 in handicap (14/1) at Newmarket (12f, good to firm) 28 days ago.

Form: 0474-97

(8)

Mighty Bandit²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Edward Greatrex| T: W Greatrex| OR: 80

17/2

Last of 10 in handicap at Ascot (12f, firm, 8/1) 21 days ago, though had pretty hopeless task from position held up in a very steadily-run race.

Form: 1632-40

(2)

Paradoxical^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: George Wood| T: J Candlish| OR: 80| D

20/1

Six wins from 22 Flat runs. 4 wins from 11 runs this year. Latest win at Wolverhampton in March. Ninth of 14 in handicap (40/1) at this course (10.3f, good to soft) 23 days ago. Needs to settle better this time to see it out up in trip.

Form: 112869

(6)

Miss Alpilles²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: George Downing| T: E Walker| OR: 79| D

16/1

Eighth of 11 in handicap at Newcastle (12.4f, 50/1) 20 days ago. Should come on for that reappearance.

Form: 48154-8

(7)

Gordon Grey^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J Mitchell| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 76| D

25/1

AW winner in January. Well-beaten last of 11 to Saadi in Gr 2 at Saint Moritz (9.9f, good). Off 104 days. Back up in trip. Tongue strap back on and this a more suitable assignment.

Form: 04-9170

Result Amended

Box To Box - Original Position 6th. Amended Position 5th.

Spirit Of Acklam - Original Position 10th. Amended Position 9th.

Struth - Original Position 5th. Amended Position 4th.

Mighty Bandit - Original Position 7th. Amended Position 6th.

Paradoxical - Original Position 9th. Amended Position 8th.

Miss Alpilles - Original Position 4th. Amended Position 10th.

Gordon Grey - Original Position 8th. Amended Position 7th.

Forecasts

Charmaine (10/3), Box To Box (4/1), Spirit Of Acklam (9/2), Dream Harder (5/1), Mighty Bandit (17/2), Struth (9/1), Miss Alpilles (16/1), Paradoxical (20/1), Per Contra (25/1), Gordon Grey (25/1)

CHARMAINE is totally unexposed over this trip and there's no reason why she won't translate her AW form to turf, so she could be the answer for her in-form stable. Spirit of Acklam also arrives on the up, while Dream Harder is more exposed but is well weighted these days.