16:17 Chester

Saturday 19 September 2026

All14:0014:3515:1015:4616:1716:5217:25

Halliwell Jones Handicap

Off time: 16:17 | Winning time: 1m 4.06s

(3)

Sudden Flight^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: P Cosgrave| T: R Hughes| OR: 86| D

5/1

Successful twice (5f/6f) on all-weather in 2025. Runner-up 3 times over 6f on turf this year and another creditable effort when fifth of 10 at Goodwood (6f again) last time. Speedy enough to cope with the return to 5f and he's well drawn.

Form: 322205

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(1)

Elegant Erin^p1²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: Liam Wright⁽³⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 85| D

11/2

Good ¾-length fourth of 8 to Jm Jungle in listed race (28/1) at Beverley (5f, heavy) 20 days ago. Cheekpieces on first time. Player back in handicap from the inside stall.

Form: 906334

(7)

Betsen⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jack Doughty| T: A W Carroll| OR: 84| D

13/2

Latest win at Chepstow in May. Creditable third of 10 over C&D (soft) 8 days ago. 1 lb lower today so ought to be competitive again.

Form: 091853

(9)

Dream Composer^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: D C Costello| T: A W Carroll| OR: 83| D

20/1

Already a dual scorer for current yard this season, showing a good attitude at Windsor for latter win in June. Back to best when creditable fourth of 16 there (6f, good to firm) last month but only a respectable third of 6 at Goodwood since.

Form: 471543

(4)

Temple Of Athena^p⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Kiely-Marshall⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 81| CD

7/1

C&D winner on good last September. Cheekpieces on first time, bit below form when fourth of 10 over C&D (soft, 11/1) 8 days ago but this represents a slight drop in grade.

Form: 084454

(8)

Noble Vow⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S C Cronin⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 80| D

28/1

Showed improved form when winning a Bath maiden (5.7f) in May and followed up in handicap at Haydock later that month. Saddle slipped next time and looked rusty after 2 months off (had been gelded) when always behind at Glorious Goodwood. Better expected now back down in class.

Form: 531100

(11)

Secret Mistral¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Myla Coppins⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 79| CD

20/1

C&D winner in July. Creditable third back here a fortnight later but below par at other venues since. Needs a return to Chester to spark a revival.

Form: 8-21348

(5)

Vingegaard^b¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: O McSweeney| T: P T Midgley| OR: 74| D

16/1

Bounced back to form under more positive tactics with success in 11-runner handicap at Thirsk (6f) in June. Left Julie Camacho after a poor run at Glorious Goodwood but quickly back on form for new yard when sixth of 21 at York (5.4f) 13 days ago. Heavy-ground winner as a juvenile. Respected.

Form: 036106

(2)

Copper Knight^t⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 8-12| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 71| CD

9/4

Admirable veteran who is a 5-time C&D winner and showed an excellent attitude when adding to his tally at Beverley in May. More miss than hit since but his reduced mark reflects that. Well drawn to attack.

Form: 690908

(10)

Level Up^v¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: J F Egan| T: P D Evans| OR: 70| D

28/1

Two 5f Chepstow wins this summer, latterly on soft ground at the end of August. Pulled clear with the second on that occasion so a 4 lb rise seems fair.

Form: 221671

(6)

Over Spiced^p¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Ashley Lewis⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 69| BF| D

13/2

Scored at Bath in May and has placed on 6 of her last 7 outings, looking unlucky (not clear run) when beaten only a neck at Goodwood (5f, heavy) 11 days ago. Likely to go well again.

Form: 323522

Non-Runners

(13)

Winchurch³⁶

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: M Appleby J: Mason Paetel

(12)

Maharajas Express⁶

Weight: 9-3| Age: 6

T: Ian Williams J: P J McDonald

Forecasts

Copper Knight (9/4), Sudden Flight (5/1), Elegant Erin (11/2), Maharajas Express (11/2), Over Spiced (13/2), Betsen (13/2), Temple Of Athena (7/1), Vingegaard (16/1), Secret Mistral (20/1), Dream Composer (20/1), Winchurch (20/1), Level Up (28/1), Noble Vow (28/1)

The speed that SUDDEN FLIGHT showed last time suggests this drop back to 5f may suit. He'll be fine whatever the ground is and has a handy draw, so there are reasons to be hopeful. Over Spiced has been a model of consistency lately and is the second choice ahead of Copper Knight and the Paul Midgley pair Elegant Erin and Vingegaard.