14:15 Chester

Saturday 24 September 2022

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Boulton Group Handicap

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 1m 28.39s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Ffion⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: D Loughnane| OR: 85| CD

9/4

Well prepared to make a winning return over C&D in May. Hasn't had a proper pace to aim at since ant yet to match that form, but he's now down in grade and is a big layer if getting the breaks.

Form: 3-10759

(9)

Melody Of Life^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| C| D

15/2

All-the-way winner of 8.2f handicap at Leicester in June. Plenty of good efforts in defeat since, including when third from this mark at Newcastle last week.

Form: 133673

(2)

Mighty Gurkha^p³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: A Watson| OR: 84| BF

25/1

Losing run stretches back to January 2021 and beaten before stamina for 7f came into it at Chepstow. Well drawn but enough to prove for now.

Form: 872325

(8)

Paws For Thought³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 84| CD

7/2

C&D winner. Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. Respectable fourth of 11 in handicap at this course (7.6f) last month and likely to give it another good shot.

Form: 280434

(7)

Poet's Magic⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 83| BF| CD

17/2

Cashed in on a drop in grade when making all over C&D in June. Brace of runner-up efforts since confirm she's in good nick and a definite player if she can work across from stall 7.

Form: 701622

(14)

Mossbawn¹²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Robinson| T: T D Barron| OR: 83| D

40/1

Progressed well last year with 3 wins over 7f and resumed with very good third at Redcar in April. Shaped quite well at Haydock a month later but off the track since and has stall 14 to contend with.

Form: 317-304

(5)

Little Boy Blue^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: A J Farragher⁽⁵⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 82| D

25/1

Latest win at Brighton in May fitted with cheekpieces but looked anchored by revised mark in slightly deeper race both starts since.

Form: 404153

(12)

Hathlool³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Frederick Larson⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 81

25/1

Powered away to land a Leicester handicap in July. Race not run to suit both starts since and should get a pace to aim at back over 7fm, but he'll need luck from a high draw at this track. Hood removed.

Form: 043176

(3)

Cliffcake⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J F Egan| T: S R Bowring| OR: 81| BF| D

13/2

Enhanced excellent strike rate in 12-runner handicap at Thirsk in June. Gave a bold sight from the front at Doncaster a month later and remains one to be positive about.

Form: 11-1214

(1)

Royal Musketeer⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Hayley Turner| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 80| D

40/1

Confirmed promise of stable debut when landing 9-runner handicap at Newmarket in May. Failed to match that in 3 starts since but inside stall should help his cause.

Form: 4-51935

(13)

Gabrial The Devil⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| C

10/1

Five-time course winner who stopped the slide when third at Ayr a week ago. Same mark here so well weighted if he can build on that, for all wide draw could be an issue.

Form: 380953

(10)

Yanifer⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Rowan Scott| T: H Bethell| OR: 79| CD

14/1

Gained some much-deserved reward for his consistency when opening account for the season at Doncaster in June and followed up in good style over C&D in July. Raced on unfavoured part of the track here later that month.

Form: 283118

Non-Runners

(6)

Prince Of Bel Lir⁴³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: J Parr J: Non Runner

(11)

Broken Spear⁵⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: T Coyle & K Wood J: Jonny Peate

Forecasts

Ffion (9/4), Paws For Thought (7/2), Cliffcake (13/2), Melody Of Life (15/2), Prince Of Bel Lir (8/1), Poet's Magic (17/2), Gabrial The Devil (10/1), Yanifer (14/1), Broken Spear (16/1), Hathlool (25/1), Mighty Gurkha (25/1), Little Boy Blue (25/1), Royal Musketeer (40/1), Mossbawn (40/1)

CLIFFCAKE can boast an excellent strike rate for one of his ability and, with stall 3 an ideal place to attack, he makes as much appeal as any of these. Ffion is well weighted if getting a good pace to aim at, with Poet's Magic completing the shortlist.