16:20 Chester

Friday 6 May 2022

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:2016:55

White Oak Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 2m 43.4s

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(13)

Haseefah⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: George Bass⁽³⁾| T: A King| OR: 79

20/1

Ex-French 1m2f winner who ran with credit on each of his 3 starts on Flat upon joining present yard last year. Didn't kick on from hurdles debut victory thereafter in that sphere but bounce back not ruled out returned to the level.

Form: 239/422-

(1)

Heart Of Soul^v¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Sanderson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 79| CD

5/1

Gained a third C&D victory from a 1 lb higher mark last summer and stepped up on Newbury return effort when 3 lengths fourth of 5 at Doncaster (10.2f) 2 weeks ago. Better can be expected in refitted visor now.

Form: 1275-04

(9)

Kihavah¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Ryan Sexton⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 79

11/2

Fairly useful hurdles winner who ran well without threatening a Mark Johnston 4-y-o in a Beverley novice (10f) 2 weeks ago, albeit well clear of remainder. Will hold more chance now handicapping in this sphere.

Form: 338-2

(11)

Scampi¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Harry Davies⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 78| D

10/3

Consistent without getting is head in front last year and deservedly off the mark without needing to improve in small-field Wolverhampton novice (12.2f) 18 days ago. Rider takes off very handy 5 lb back in a handicap and worth a look.

Form: 3424-21

(5)

Arctic Fox²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Russell| T: M Todhunter| OR: 76| D

14/1

Three-time winner for Richard Fahey back in 2019 who knocked on the door in staying handicaps on turf for present stable last summer. Versatile as regards ground but has often needed her first run of the season.

Form: 525423-

(12)

Crimson King^v²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: George Rooke| T: M Appleby| OR: 75| D

50/1

Kept busy on AW this winter, gaining second small field success at Lingfield (12f) in January. Run respectably in defeat subsequently but still to taste success on turf.

Form: 4-21438

(10)

Tinnahalla^t¹⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: William Pyle⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 75

18/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat for Jamie Osborne. Reached a similar level over hurdles for present yard, winning twice at 15.7f and betting should prove a useful guide making his handicap debut in this sphere.

Form: 224225/

(15)

Mafia Power¹⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Liam Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 75

20/1

Essentially a victim of his own consistency in handicaps, again filling frame when third of 12 at Doncaster (10.2f, soft) in October. Rare below par display over 1m at Kempton in December and he's an each-way player on seasonal bow.

Form: 323338-

(2)

Remedium^p²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Mollie Phillips⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 72

25/1

Fairly useful maiden for Richard Hannon who stepped up on return/yard debut effort without threatening when ninth of 12 at Windsor (11.5f) in April. Mark has eased a little more if he can step up again on that.

Form: 3847-09

(4)

Bamboo Bay¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Murtagh| T: P A Kirby| OR: 72| D

33/1

Won a Roscommon handicap over this sort of trip for Joseph O'Brien last summer. Fair form on the first of 2 outings over hurdles for new yard at the end of 2021 and possibly in need of Flat return at Catterick in April. Entitled to be sharper.

Form: 0/451-5

(7)

Kalaroun^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss T L Cogan| OR: 69

6/1

Winner at Dundalk (10.7f) in October (final start for M. Halford) and has largely run respectably, including over shorter trips for new yard. Interesting connections pitch him in here and he's unexposed at this sort of trip.

Form: 61-9665

(8)

Zambezi Magic^h²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Laura Pearson| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 69

25/1

Losing run mounting up but twice ran well in course handicaps last term and better for Doncaster return in March when fifth in 12-runner Windsor handicap (11.5f) 25 days ago. Can go well from career-low mark.

Form: 5234-05

(3)

Casting Vote²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrew Breslin| T: Christian Williams| OR: 68

28/1

Windsor novice winner (at 10f) for Simon & Ed Crisford back in summer 2020. More miss than hit subsequently, including on AW of late but best effort for present yard did come at this venue last summer. One to monitor closely in betting for positive vibes.

Form: 603-595

(6)

Iconique^h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Connor Planas⁽⁷⁾| T: C Fellowes| OR: 68

11/1

4-y-o filly who showed improved form and responded well to land Yarmouth handicap (11.5f) at 16/1 back in October. No show final start but back on track when third on return at Windsor (11.5f) and she remains low-mileage in handicaps.

Form: 34619-3

(16)

Gold Souk^t²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Laura Coughlan⁽³⁾| T: D Steele| OR: 65

8/1

Successful over 9.5f at Wolverhampton last October and successful in a pair of handicap hurdle at around 2m this spring. Also, good third of 9 in handicap (13/2) at Kempton (16f) 2 days ago.

Form: 36010-3

Non-Runners

(14)

Red Flyer²¹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: K Jewell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Scampi (10/3), Heart Of Soul (5/1), Kihavah (11/2), Kalaroun (6/1), Gold Souk (8/1), Iconique (11/1), Arctic Fox (14/1), Red Flyer (14/1), Tinnahalla (18/1), Haseefah (20/1), Mafia Power (20/1), Zambezi Magic (25/1), Remedium (25/1), Casting Vote (28/1), Bamboo Bay (33/1), Crimson King (50/1)

Unsurprisingly a host arrive with sound claims and it may pay to take a chance on one at the foot of the weights in the shape of ICONIQUE. A winner at Yarmouth last year, she ran well when third on return at Windsor whilst highlighting she may well come on for the run and she's still relatively low-mileage. Recent AW scorer Scampi, under Harry Davies, course-regular Heart And Soul and Zambezi Magic head up the dangers.