15:30 Chester

Saturday 30 May 2026

All13:1513:5014:2014:5315:3016:0516:38

Virgin Bet Handicap

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 1m 27.22s

(5)

Palmar Bay²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 102| CD

5/1

Won a brace of 7f handicaps last season and returned from 3 months off with a solid fourth in listed race at Wolverhampton (7f) in March. Not disgraced in another listed event at Haydock since but he'll require a really smart effort from a mark of 102.

Form: 1964-44

(7)

Roman Dragon^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Palmer| OR: 100| C

7/1

Notched eighth course victory when just holding on over 5f 23 days ago. First 7f start for 3 years (all wins at sprint trips).

Form: 058701

(1)

Elements Of Fire²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: A Watson| OR: 94| D

13/2

Useful performer who made it 4-4 on all-weather (all 7f) when making all in Wolverhampton handicap last month. Weakened into seventh in 6f Ascot handicap back on turf since but may find it easier to dominate back at 7f from the inside stall.

Form: 1/4-1117

(3)

Supido^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Loughnane| T: Ian Williams| OR: 94| C| D

5/2

Lost his way last year after a promising start for this yard but back to form with a bang to win 13-runner handicap at this course (7.6f, good to firm) 24 days ago. Well drawn again and a 4 lb rise doesn't look enough to stop him.

Form: 70858-1

(12)

Bobby Bennu^h²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 93| C| D

15/2

Had an up and down 2025 having scored 3 times as a 3-y-o (including here) but at least starts off new season below his winning mark. Draw not ideal, though.

Form: 382550-

(11)

Korker¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: K R Burke| OR: 91

16/1

Winless since 2023. Placed twice from his reduced mark last autumn but down the field on all 3 outings this spring.

Form: 320-080

(9)

Angel Hunter^b¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Alec Voikhansky| T: R Hannon| OR: 91| D

16/1

Put best foot forward to resume winning ways at Lingfield (1m) last month. Creditable sixth of 11 at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) 14 days ago but looks summed up by his mark.

Form: 0-08166

(4)

Midnight Strike²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Barry McHugh| T: J Candlish| OR: 88

50/1

Useful at his peak in Ireland but no promise in C&D handicap on first outing for new connections 24 days ago.

Form: 03340-0

(6)

Miami Matrix²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Cieren Fallon| T: P Morris| OR: 85| C| D

15/2

Three-time winner for Hugo Palmer last season and made an encouraging return for new yard following 8 months off when fourth of 13 over C&D 24 days ago. Can pay his way again this campaign on that evidence.

Form: 11002-4

(8)

Brighton Boy¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Warren Fentiman⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| C| D

11/1

Dual course winner during his time with Andrew Balding and back to form for new yard when edging ahead late on at Thirsk (7f, good to soft) 14 days ago. A 3 lb rise for that is offset by Warren Fentiman's claim.

Form: 019-701

(2)

Lexington Jet^b⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: S De Sousa| T: D Loughnane| OR: 82

20/1

Free-going front runner who has improved for application of blinkers this year, winning 3 times over 1m at Chelmsford. Lesser effort at Southwell 8 weeks ago but he is well drawn to attack back on turf.

Form: 3-11710

Non-Runners

(10)

Nizam⁴²

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: Ian Williams J: Charles Bishop

(13)

The Angel King²⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: Ian Williams J: Ryan Kavanagh

Forecasts

Supido (5/2), Palmar Bay (5/1), Elements Of Fire (13/2), Roman Dragon (7/1), Bobby Bennu (15/2), Miami Matrix (15/2), Brighton Boy (11/1), The Angel King (12/1), Korker (16/1), Angel Hunter (16/1), Lexington Jet (20/1), Midnight Strike (50/1), Nizam (50/1)

SUPIDO has fared well with the draw here again and can make light of a 4 lb rise for his win over the extended 7f earlier in the month. Elements of Fire faded dropped to 6f on his turf return at Ascot 3 weeks ago but he's shown very progressive form over 7f from the front on all-weather and is ideally drawn to control things from stall 1. Brighton Boy and Miami Matrix complete the shortlist.