14:40 Chester

Saturday 13 September 2025

All13:3514:0514:4015:2316:0016:3517:0517:35

Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Watergate Cup (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 3m 24.33s

(2)

Yashin^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Archie Young⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 103| D

22/1

Goes well fresh and, following another breathing op ahead of return for new yard, proved at least as good as ever when seeing off Coltrane in 4-runner Sagaro at Ascot (2m, firm) on reappearance in May. Last to complete in better company all 3 starts since and others are preferred.

Form: 06-1760

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(3)

Prydwen¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Darragh Keenan| T: George Scott| OR: 101| D

16/1

Had an excellent 2024, winning 4 times, including Deutsches St Leger at Dortmund. Not really fired on these shores this year, though, failing to make use of a good track position when 4½ lengths fifth of 6 to Allonsy in listed race at this course (14.4f, good to firm, 9/1) 14 days ago.

Form: 64P005

(10)

Zoffee⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: H Palmer| OR: 93| C| D

14/1

Last season's Chester Cup winner who proved hit and miss thereafter but he did return to form when third in corresponding race this year. Down the field at Royal Ascot since and he'll likely need the return to Chester to spark him back to life.

Form: 0940-30

(6)

Spirit Mixer²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 93| CD

5/1

Grand servant to connections who tasted success twice over C&D last autumn (including this race) and gained another big win in the Northumberland Plate in June. Respectable runs without really threatening since and should give another decent account for all others appeal as better treated.

Form: 572157

(4)

Ndaawi⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Cieren Fallon| T: G Elliott| OR: 89| D

6/5

Respectable seventh of 20 in the Ascot Stakes in June 2024 and gained a deserved major handicap hurdle success when awarded the Galway Hurdle 6 weeks ago. Leading player back on the level.

Form: 605/710-

(7)

Youthful King^h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Aidan Keeley| T: L A Dace| OR: 88

33/1

Latest win at Sandown in June. Ran creditably after going freely in front when third of 5 in handicap (2/1) at Newmarket (14f, good to firm) 21 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 462163

(5)

Tribal Star^p²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: A McGuinness| OR: 85

9/1

Good fourth in the Northumberland Plate in June and was right back to his best to land a valuable pot at Dundalk (10.7f) 29 days ago. Step back up in trip sure to suit but hard to know whether he's quite as effective on turf.

Form: 229471

(9)

Artisan Dancer⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Joanna Mason| T: C Johnston| OR: 83| BF| D

4/1

Scored at Ripon in April and has continued in good nick, finishing runner-up for the third consecutive start in a 10-runner handicap at York (16.2f, good to firm) 6 days ago. Reliable type is high on the shortlist again.

Form: 073222

(1)

Torcello^v⁹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 8-5| J: Nicola Currie| T: S Lycett| OR: 82| D

66/1

Veteran scored at Pontefract in 2024 but he went with little fluency when a reappearance eleventh of 14 in handicap at Epsom (12f, good to soft) in June. Visor replaces blinkers but others are more persuasive.

Form: 13937-0

(11)

Gibside⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 81| C| D

18/1

Scored here in May but out of sorts of late, faring no better for a 9-week break when eighth of 10 in handicap at York (16.2f, good to firm, 25/1) 6 days ago. Hard to fancy.

Form: 813078

(8)

Sixpack^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: James Owen| OR: 79

33/1

A fair 14f winner for Johnny Murtagh in 2024. Beaten only narrowly at Goodwood on his second start this season but seemed beaten by more than a lack of fitness after 4 months off when down the field there 11 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 363-025

Non-Runners

(12)

Sheradann¹⁶

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: Edward Greatrex

Forecasts

Ndaawi (6/5), Artisan Dancer (4/1), Spirit Mixer (5/1), Sheradann (7/1), Tribal Star (9/1), Zoffee (14/1), Prydwen (16/1), Gibside (18/1), Yashin (22/1), Sixpack (33/1), Youthful King (33/1), Torcello (66/1)

NDAAWI was awarded the Galway Hurdle last time and Gordon Elliott's charge makes plenty of appeal returned to the Flat. Artisan Dancer is a most likeable type and should give his running once again attempting to break his string of second-placed finishes, with last year's winner Spirit Mixer taken to round out the placings.