14:10 Chester

Saturday 31 August 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Sportpesa Handicap

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 1m 35.02s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Oh This Is Us⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Hannon| OR: 105| CD

5/2

Won this race 12 months ago off 3lb higher mark. Second over C&D in July and no luck in running last time at Chester. Every chance if things fall his way at a track that suits and should make a bold bid.

Form: 236259

(5)

Lake Volta⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96

5/1

7f Listed winner last term and has run well without winning in both he Bunbury Cup and Wokingham Handicap this campaign. Not at best last two starts and has eased 3lb. Needs to bounce back to score.

Form: 529788

(4)

Aljady^p1³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92

13/2

Won first three last season as a juvenile but no joy in five starts since. Not disgraced at Goodwood latest and 2lb lower mark now helps the cause. First-time cheekpieces applied.

Form: 162-300

(8)

Alemaratalyoum^p1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: S A Gray| T: S C Williams| OR: 89| D

33/1

Won four times last term for Iain Jardine but no joy in six attempts for current yard this season. Moderate efforts last two starts and cheekpieces now added. Down 3lb but others make more appeal.

Form: 004005

(9)

Barristan The Bold²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 95| C

5/1

C&D winner last season and placed both starts here this campaign. Won on Newcastle AW penultimate start then seemed not to stay a mile last time at HQ. Drop back looks right but has to defy a career-high mark.

Form: 350214

(11)

Humble Gratitude^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Cam Hardie| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| CD

16/1

On a hat-trick after C&D win and victory over a mile at Newmarket last time off 4lb lower mark. This is tougher but is in form, handles the track and will have his supporters.

Form: 268511

(1)

Arcanada^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 86| C| D

8/1

Stable companion of Barristan The Bold. Led close home when winning over mile at Haydock in June and only just failed to make all at Windsor last time. 5lb claim helps and jockey has won on him before so may not be far away from good draw.

Form: 090172

(10)

Hero Hero²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: M Dwyer| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| CD

9/1

Won C&D novice by eight lengths in May before fair 10th of 28 in Brittania Handicap at Royal Ascot. Better for reappearance run over inadequate 6f at Ascot last time and eased 2lb. Draw doesn't help but is interesting.

Form: 2-3108

(7)

Gabrial The Wire¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: S P Davis⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| C

22/1

One of three representing his stable, he beat Barristan the Bold comfortably over C&D in June and not disgraced off higher marks in tough handicaps since. Suspicion he may be a little high in the weights unless market suggests otherwise.

Form: 214108

(2)

Penwortham²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-3| J: D Fentiman| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84| CD

16/1

Won this race in 2017 off 1lb lower mark. Has four wins to his name here and loves the track. Won here in June off 5lb lower but had every chance last time and wasn't good enough. Needs to raise his game.

Form: 564104

(3)

Sir Busker^v²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: J Quinn| T: W J Knight| OR: 89

12/1

Landed Goodwood 7f h'cap in June off 12lb lower mark, and ran very well on heavy ground latest when second at Haydock off just 2lb lower. In good heart and appears progressive so well worth considering getting wieght all round.

Form: 541252

Non-Runners

(12)

Akvavera²⁷

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: R M Beckett J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Oh This Is Us (5/2), Barristan The Bold (5/1), Lake Volta (5/1), Aljady (13/2), Arcanada (8/1), Hero Hero (9/1), Sir Busker (12/1), Akvavera (12/1), Humble Gratitude (16/1), Penwortham (16/1), Gabrial The Wire (22/1), Alemaratalyoum (33/1)

Humble Gratitude should make a bold bid to follow up his recent win and goes well here, but so too do plenty of others, including the 2017 winner Penwortham, and last year's victor OH THIS IS US. The latter ran well here in Listed company earlier in the summer and is holding his form so has a solid chance of defending his title. Both Hero Hero and Sir Busker may not be far away, while Akvavera and Barristan the Bold are others with a squeak in wide-open quality handicap.