17:20 Chester

Sunday 6 August 2017

All14:0514:3515:1015:4016:1516:5017:20

Merseyrail Handicap

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 2m 15.1s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Energia Fox¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| CD

12/1

C&D winner who has recorded both of her first two wins in Britain this year, but hasn't been in the same form since and once again has plenty to prove now.

Form: 131446

(8)

Outback Blue^t,v¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J F Egan| T: P D Evans| OR: 73

12/1

Put in his best performance since winning in May last year when second at Haydock last month. Up 2lb now which won't be an issue, but he does need to prove that was the start of a revival, rather than a one-off.

Form: 78-0442

(5)

Fort Jefferson³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 73

8/1

Two very poor runs so far this year having gone well after being gelded last season. Having run as if something were amiss on both occasions it's also possible he may not have trained on and has plenty to prove.

Form: 3211-80

(3)

Al Zaman^p,t⁷¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 80

15/8

Has made an unspectacular start to his handicapping career, having finished fifth in both races so far (in fields of six and eight). More obviously needed now but he has been dropped a useful 3lb by the handicapper.

Form: 2-155

(1)

X Rated⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 78| D

4/1

On the same mark as when going very close at Windsor last week, this is a bigger field which could make it trickier for him but he is obviously well treated and is proven over the distance.

Form: 567152

(4)

Golden Wolf²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 75| BF

8/1

Has run to a fair level in four maidens, coming up just short of the quality required to win one on each occasion. Looks the sort to win a handicap early on and looks potentially weighted to do so here if able to prove he is effective on turf.

Form: 3-242

(2)

Melabi⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ford| OR: 66

16/1

Forgiven his last run as things were never going his way, but in general seems more effective over 1m4f and could be vulnerable to less exposed rivals here.

Form: 441260

(6)

Alexander M⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 71| D

5/1

Off the mark at Doncaster two starts ago (1m2f, good to firm), and had been running very consistently prior to that. Below par over C&D latest but could get involved again if bouncing back from that only 1lb above his winning mark.

Form: 233215

Forecasts

Al Zaman (15/8), X Rated (4/1), Alexander M (5/1), Golden Wolf (8/1), Fort Jefferson (8/1), Outback Blue (12/1), Energia Fox (12/1), Melabi (16/1)

It was encouraging to see X RATED go so close at Windsor last week, and though he faces a different challenge here (the field is twice the size for a start), he is clearly on a workable handicap mark and if the potential cut in the ground isn't a problem he should be capable of going well again having recently won at Bath. Golden Wolf makes both his handicap and turf debut here but looks to be on a fair opening mark, while Alexander M ran poorly here last time but would have a chance on his form prior to that performance.