14:40 Chester

Saturday 30 August 2025

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 3m 8.25s

(5)

Alsakib⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 109| C| D

2/1

Group 3 winner at York last season and wasn't disgraced when fourth in a muddling renewal of the Yorkshire Cup there on return. Blew the start and failed to give his running in a listed contest there last time, but pick of his form would see him right in the mix here.

Form: 4178-44

(3)

Minella Rescue⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: S D Bowen| T: G Hanmer

22/1

Useful hurdler scored in handicap at Uttoxter in May and ran well in similar event there last time but this is surely a big ask on Flat debut.

Form:

(6)

Prydwen⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 103| D

9/1

Had an excellent 2024, winning 4 times, including Deutsches St Leger at Dortmund. Not really fired on these shores this year, though, finishing only twelfth of 16 in handicap at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good to firm) 74 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: 1-64P00

(7)

Tabletalk^p1⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: Tom Clover| OR: 113| D

9/4

Won the valuable Melrose Handicap at York last August. Returned with good runner-up efforts in 1½m Group 3s at Newbury this spring and fair run back at York in that grade last month. Player in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 15-2263

(2)

Allonsy^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Edward Greatrex| T: R M Beckett| OR: 98

4/1

Progressed last term, winning 4 handicaps on the bounce at around 12f and proved better than ever when winning a listed race at Pontefract on her penultimate start. Found things when down the field in Group 2 company at Glorious Goodwood and she should be more at home at this level.

Form: 12-5417

(1)

Orchard Keeper¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Aidan Keeley| T: R Varian| OR: 85| D

13/2

Likeable type got off the mark for the season at Goodwood in June and backed that up with sound placed efforts at Newbury and Newmarket. This is much tougher for all she's largely reliable.

Form: 326132

Non-Runners

(8)

Tashkhan²⁹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 7

T: B Ellison J: Ben Robinson

(4)

Too Soon³⁰

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: G & J Moore J: Rob Hornby

Forecasts

Alsakib (2/1), Tabletalk (9/4), Allonsy (4/1), Orchard Keeper (13/2), Prydwen (9/1), Too Soon (12/1), Tashkhan (14/1), Minella Rescue (22/1)

A thin event for the grade all told, with the reliable TABLETALK fancied to get off the mark for the season dropped into listed class for the first time this year. Alsakib would pose the biggest threat on form, for all his slow starts are a concern at this track, with the filly Allonsy taken to round out the placings having won at this level against her own sex earlier in the summer.