17:15 Chester

Sunday 1 August 2021

All14:1014:4015:1015:4516:1516:4517:15

Mental Health UK Handicap

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 2m 12.76s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(10)

Hector's Here^b²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: I Furtado| OR: 79| D

13/2

Scored at Wolverhampton in February and proved better than ever to notch a second victory on turf at Beverley 4 weeks ago. Up 6 lb but should remain competitive with Tom Marquand booked.

Form: 613901

(3)

Aweedram^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: T E Whelan| T: K Frost| OR: 75

8/1

Hasn't tasted success for some time but, from his sliding mark, took a step back in the right direction when a staying-on fourth over C&D just over 3 weeks ago. Given a chance by the handicapper.

Form: 79-5464

(2)

The New Marwan^p1⁶⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 75

50/1

Limitations seemingly exposed after Hamilton maiden success in June 2019, and likely to need this on first start for his new yard after 21 months off the track. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 213235/

(1)

Set In Stone¹²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: R Menzies| OR: 73

20/1

Landed a brace of all-weather jumpers bumpers earlier this year but has made little impact in 3 subsequent starts, including over hurdles the last twice. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 3121/20-

(4)

Fairmac^b²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 81| D

2/1

Gained reward for his consistency as he finally opened his account for the year when winning 7-runner handicap (2/1) at Ayr (10f, good) 20 days ago. Likely to be in the mix again nudged up 4 lb.

Form: 362231

(7)

Bay Of Naples³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Mitchell| T: M Herrington| OR: 72

33/1

Registered fifth success on the AW when narrowly prevaling in Southwell handicap (11f) in February. Shaped as if needing the run after 4 months off here 5 weeks ago so could feature from this mark.

Form: 1-41518

(8)

Gabrials Boy¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 72| D

12/1

Ripon maiden winner as a 3-y-o who didn't kick on from a promising reappearance third on AW last summer. Shaped encouragingly when a close fourth on return at Haydock 15 days ago so is respected.

Form: 5/3760-4

(5)

Pacino⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 62

9/1

Twenty one runs since last win in 2019 but did turn in best effort of the season from a career-low mark when fourth at Ayr 6 days ago. Task is now building on that.

Form: 238-984

(6)

Hot Team^v³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 59

9/1

Ended a long losing run at Hamilton in May, and ran creditably faced with a stiff task from out of the handicap when fifth at this track just over 5 weeks ago. Others preferred for win purposes.

Form: 541485

(9)

Two Brothers²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Joanna Mason⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 65

4/1

Confirmed himself fully effective on turf on his second handicap start when runner-up at Ayr just under 4 weeks ago, staying on after conceding first run. Not dismissed lightly from same mark.

Form: 47542

Forecasts

Fairmac (2/1), Two Brothers (4/1), Hector's Here (13/2), Aweedram (8/1), Hot Team (9/1), Pacino (9/1), Gabrials Boy (12/1), Set In Stone (20/1), Bay Of Naples (33/1), The New Marwan (50/1)

FAIRMAC gained due reward for his consistency as he finally opened his account for the year at Ayr just under 3 weeks ago, well placed the way things unfolded but winning with plenty up his sleeve. Nudged up just 4 lb, Mark Johnston's charge gets the nod to go in again. The main threat could be Hector's Here, who proved better than ever as he resumed winning ways last time, ahead of Gabrials Boy.