16:20 Chester

Saturday 26 July 2025

All13:3014:1014:4515:1515:4516:2016:5517:30

Halliwell Jones Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 1m 0.54s

(9)

Maharajas Express^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Jason Watson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 72| CD

11/4

Landed pair of 5f Wolverhampton handicaps in February and well suited by the way the race developed when winning 11-runner handicap at this C&D 14 days ago, staying on to lead close home. Has worst of draw to contend with again but forecast strong gallop to aim at can see him firmly in the mix again

Form: 492231

(5)

Stash The Cash^p1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 70| D

11/2

Back-to-back winner of handicaps at Hamilton (5f) last summer who has returned to form in recent weeks, creditable third of 7 in handicap at Ayr (5f, good to soft, 7/2) 20 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time and he's not discounted.

Form: 86-5733

(7)

Dickieburd^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: George Wood| T: I Furtado| OR: 69| BF| CD

10/3

C&D winner who ended up doing too much too soon in first-time blinkers (retained here) but still fared creditably when 1¾ lengths fourth of 11 to Maharajas Express in handicap at this C&D (good to firm, 9/4) 14 days ago. Further 2 lb drop in weights a plus provided he settles better.

Form: 9-68804

(3)

Level Up^v⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 69| D

11/2

Had been going through a good spell, winning handicaps at Chepstow/Leicester and runner-up either side of those efforts. Found himself closer to the pace than ideal when seventh of 8 in handicap at Doncaster (5f) 7 days ago and bounce back likely here.

Form: 712127

(6)

Acrisius¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 71| D

13/2

Landed a small-field Brighton maiden (5.2f) on final 2-y-o outing and performed with credit on 3 of his 4 starts this season, making his effort earlier than the pair who beat him when 1½ lengths third of 11 to Maharajas Express in handicap at this C&D 14 days ago. One to bear in mind at this level.

Form: 31-2073

(4)

Son Of Wind²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tommie Jakes⁽⁵⁾| T: I Mohammed & J Santos| OR: 69| D

14/1

5f all-weather winner at 2 yrs who was backed at long odds following 9 months off and he ran creditably despite looking stretched by the trip when fourth of 9 in handicap (10/1) at Kempton (6f) 23 days ago. Return to 5f in his favour if he can prove as effective back on turf.

Form: 31227-4

(1)

Over Spiced⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Aidan Keeley| T: G Harris| OR: 67| BF| D

7/1

Bounced back to very best in May with brace of 5f wins at Chepstow/Lingfield. Probably stretched by step up to 6f on penultimate start and she quickly returned to form when runner-up at Chepstow (5f) 9 days ago. This looks a little tougher but draw in stall 1 rates an obvious plus.

Form: 511262

(2)

The Defiant^p,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: Jack Dace⁽⁷⁾| T: L A Dace| OR: 56| D

25/1

Showed a good attitude to end a long losing run at Wolverhampton (5.1f) in March. Respectable efforts thereafter on AW but failed to come on for a recent run when last of 8 in handicap at Newbury (5.2f) 23 days ago. Handy draw to work from in stall 2 at least having slipped further in weights.

Form: 134548

Non-Runners

(8)

Mick's Spirit¹⁰⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 7

T: C Allen J: Connor Planas

Forecasts

Maharajas Express (11/4), Dickieburd (10/3), Level Up (11/2), Stash The Cash (11/2), Acrisius (13/2), Over Spiced (7/1), Son Of Wind (14/1), Mick's Spirit (16/1), The Defiant (25/1)

DICKIEBURD was lit up in first-time blinkers and ultimately did too much too soon when fourth behind re-opposing Maharajas Express when the pair met over C&D 2 weeks ago. However, Ivan Furtado's 5-y-o is lurking on a very handy mark if channelling his energy more efficiently and could be worth chancing to prove the point. The forecast strong pace will help Maharajas Express and he's respected despite another wide draw. Level Up and Acrisius complete the shortlist.