16:45 Chester

Thursday 7 May 2026

All13:3014:0514:3515:0515:4016:1016:45

Chester Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 2m 37.21s

(7)

Oratorical²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Loughnane| T: D Loughnane| OR: 90

50/1

Well served by increased emphasis on stamina when off the mark at third attempt in a Nottingham novice (1m), heavy) in October. Reportedly lost his action on return/handicap debut when heavily eased off at Newmarket (1¼m) 3 weeks ago and he now tackles a longer trip.

Form: 231-8

(2)

Be The Standard²¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: H Palmer| OR: 82| BF

5/1

Placed on first 2 starts prior to opening his account in 11-runner Thirsk novice (1m) in August. Well below that level when fourth on nursery debut at Newcastle (1m) in October and now tackles a markedly longer trip on return to action. Has been gelded.

Form: 3214-

(3)

Moment Of Light^t³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: James Owen| OR: 82

5/2

Different proposition having been gelded/fitted with a tongue strap, making a successful handicap debut at Kempton (11f) in February. Forced to work harder due to a much steadier gallop when following up over same C&D 5 weeks ago and he's likely to progress again upped further in trip.

Form: 266-11

(5)

Galilean Quality²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 81| D

5/1

Improved with each run at 2 yrs, opening account in 5-runner novice at Pontefract (1¼m) in October. Gelded during his 6-month absence and progressed again to make a winning handicap debut at Southwell (1½m) 26 days ago, by 2 lengths from Magnetude. That unlikely to prove his limit.

Form: 641-1

(1)

Parisian Scholar^p1³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: H Crouch| T: C Johnston| OR: 79

11/2

Won 3 of 4 starts in nurseries and gelded over the winter, resumed with solid placed efforts this year, likely he'd have been better suited by setting a truer pace when finishing a length third behind Moment of Light in handicap at Kempton (11f) 5 weeks ago. Not discounted with cheekpieces fitted.

Form: 1171-23

(6)

Mythical Bay¹¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 77

9/4

Son of New Bay who matched previous best when off the mark in a 5-runner Wolverhampton novice (9.5f) in January. Bred to be useful and very much the type to go on improving in handicaps now stamina is tested further. Has been gelded.

Form: 472-1

(4)

Magnetude^p1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Harry Davies| T: James Owen| OR: 76| BF| D

12/1

Well-bred Palace Pier colt who found further progress to make a winning handicap debut over this trip at Wolverhampton in March. Had fitness on his side when no match for Galilean Quality at Southwell subsequently and yard may hold stronger claims with Moment of Light. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 843-12

(9)

Carwyn²⁰¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Ethan Tindall⁽⁵⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 75

80/1

Masar gelding who shaped with promise on 2 of his 3 starts in maidens at up to 1m in Ireland last summer. Never threatened having been left poorly placed on nursery debut at Leopardstown (1m) in October but this looks a warm enough return on stable debut. Up in trip.

Form: 3969-

Non-Runners

(8)

High Storm²²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: S H James

Forecasts

Mythical Bay (9/4), Moment Of Light (5/2), Galilean Quality (5/1), Be The Standard (5/1), Parisian Scholar (11/2), High Storm (8/1), Magnetude (12/1), Oratorical (50/1), Carwyn (80/1)

MYTHICAL BAY matched his previous best when off the mark at the fourth attempt in a Wolverhampton novice (9.5f) in January. Gelded subsequently and expected to progress further now handicapping over this longer trip, he shades preference over the hat-trick seeking Moment of Light who remains with untapped potential over middle distances. Galilean Quality and Parisian Scholar are others to consider in a competitive finale.