14:10 Chester

Saturday 11 July 2026

All13:3514:1014:4515:1815:5216:2417:0017:32

John Smith's Handicap

3YO plus | Class 5 | 5f 15y | 13 Runners | Turf

(2)

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Myla Coppins⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 75| D

6-y-o mare who was successful twice on all-weather/turf last season and she ran well after 6 months off when second of 6 in handicap at Nottingham (5f) 3 weeks ago. Still to defy a mark this high but she's well drawn in stall 2 and ought to be competitive again.

Form: 62238-2

(3)

Beauzon¹¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Ryan Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 72| D

At the top of his game on all-weather since the turn of the year, completing a remarkable 7-timer in typical fashion from the front at Wolverhampton (6f) in March. Busy spell possibly caught up with him later that month and whilst well drawn returned to turf, he'll face pace pressure upfront here.

Form: 111116

(6)

Beaumadier⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Hope Regan⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 71| D

Won twice over 5f at Wolverhampton over the winter and returned to turf in good order, backing up his Thirsk performance when second at Nottingham (5f) 9 days ago. This track will suit his attacking style and whilst he will face competition for the lead, he's respected again.

Form: 147432

(13)

Miraculous⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 71| C

Dual 6f winner for Roger Varian in 2025 (including here). Caught the eye on a couple of occasions returned to the Roodee for new yard this campaign but recent efforts not so inspiring and done no favours by the draw on this occasion for all this is a handy drop in grade.

Form: 559357

(12)

The Flying Seagull^b²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson| T: H Palmer| OR: 70| C

Hasn't won for 2 years and whilst he posted one of this season's better efforts in first-time blinkers (retained) when third at Brighton (5.3f) 3 weeks ago, he's another with a less-than-ideal draw to work from in stall 12. Does at least line up here operating from a career-low mark, at least.

Form: 5-46403

(11)

Intervention²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Harry Davies| T: M Appleby| OR: 69

Last year's Great St Wilfrid winner who has largely struggled despite a tumbling mark on turf in recent months. No surprise to see him revive at some point but another with a tricky draw in stall 11 to navigate.

Form: 040087

(1)

Alfa Duplicate¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S D Bowen| T: I Furtado| OR: 74| D

Continued good work from all-weather when narrowly opening account on turf at Beverley (5f) in May, disputing the lead and again showing a fine attitude to edge ahead dying strides. Hasn't fared at all badly in handicaps at Epsom/York since and drop back in class in her favour from plum draw.

Form: 113166

(4)

General Assembly⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jack Doughty| T: C Hobson| OR: 68| D

Scored twice at Chelmsford last autumn. Back in good nick when runner-up twice on all-weather in February but failed to come on for his reappearance run on turf when last of 10 at Windsor (5f) in May.

Form: 7-62250

(7)

Maharajas Express⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Edward Greatrex| T: Ian Williams| OR: 67| CD

Free-going sort who found things panning out ideally when landing this race from a 1 lb higher mark 12 months ago. Exploits have been mixed in 3 starts since returning this season but forecast strong pace here will suit and better showing certainly not ruled out.

Form: 136-479

(5)

Ay Gee Ell^v,t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Ethan Tindall⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 67| D

5f winner at Southwell in December who continued in good form on all-weather earlier this year. Exploits have been indifferent since returning to turf in recent months but best to overlook his latest Beverley run having lost his action when struck into.

Form: 330489

(9)

Coyy^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Cosgrave| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 71| D

Stepped up markedly on his reappearance when opening his account at Windsor (5f) in May and run with credit in defeat subsequently, 3 lengths fourth of 7 in handicap at Newmarket (5f) 3 weeks ago. Respected as one of only two 3-y-os but he needs to keep the slow starts at bay.

Form: 8-01374

(10)

Arlo's Girl²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jack Callan⁽³⁾| T: J Parr| OR: 70| D

Beat a next-time-out winner in smooth fashion when successful on debut at Lingfield last summer but has failed to build on that in 4 outings this year, weakening out of things when sixth of 7 in handicap at Thirsk (5f) last month. Now tackles her elders for the first time.

Form: 1-4786

(8)

Knicks¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Laura Pearson| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 62| CD

C&D winner who arrives on a long losing run but he ran a cracker when second from 8 lb higher here last summer. Didn't shape at all badly on 2 of his 3 starts last month and he appeals as a danger to all if getting the breaks from this sort of mark.

Form: 675364

Forecasts

Secret Mistral (9/2), Alfa Duplicate (5/1), Knicks (11/2), Beaumadier (11/2), Coyy (15/2), Miraculous (10/1), Beauzon (10/1), The Flying Seagull (12/1), Maharajas Express (16/1), Ay Gee Ell (20/1), Arlo's Girl (20/1), Intervention (25/1), General Assembly (25/1)

This looks fiendishly competitive but ALFA DUPLICATE ought to find this handy drop back down in class in her favour and whilst she's likely to face pace pressure on the front end, her willing attitude looks a real asset operating from the plum draw in stall 1. The likelihood of a contested pace will suit former C&D winner Knicks who is lurking on a dangerous mark. Beaumadier, Secret Mistral and Coyy complete the dangers.