16:20 Chester

Friday 12 May 2023

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

White Oak Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 2m 50.2s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

State Legend¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80| D

50/1

Successful 3 times at up to 12f last year for James Ferguson. Only minor promise in juvenile/novice hurdles for new yard and he struggled to make an impact tackling heavy ground for the first time at Epsom (12f) 17 days ago. Bounce back called for.

Form: 1493-70

(3)

Brasca^p1⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: George Eddery⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 78| D

66/1

Four-time winner for Ralph Beckett earlier in career and he ran respectably without being ideally placed when fourth in 7-runner Chelmsford handicap (13.3f) on debut for this yard in February. Absent since though and others appeal a little more for win purposes. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 0475-44

(1)

Greystoke⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: A King| OR: 77

11/2

Opened his account for this yard over hurdles at Newton Abbot (16.7f) 12 months ago. Winless subsequently but comes here on the back of a string of solid efforts on AW, again finding only one too good at Southwell (12f) in March. One to note for yard who took this 12 months ago.

Form: 44-3222

(16)

Heart Of Soul^p²³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: C J Todd| T: P Morris| OR: 77| CD

100/1

Multiple C&D winner who landed handicaps at Hamilton/Kempton this time last year. Proved more miss than hit thereafter, well held tackling 14f here on final outing in September. Probably best watched starting out for new yard here.

Form: 170400-

(4)

Two Brothers^v²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: A J Farragher| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 77| D

3/1

Knocked on the door several times last term and, with an encouraging reappearance run under his belt, he duly shed the maiden tag in comfortable style at Beverley (12f) last month, leading under 2f out and soon clear. This tougher but he's one to consider on that evidence.

Form: 2223-41

(12)

By Your Side¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Elliott| OR: 75| BF

85/40

Steadily progressive in handicaps for Ed Dunlop last term, winning 3 times at up to 9f. Kept busy over hurdles for leading NH yard, off the mark at Naas in March and running best race yet when second in big-field Punchestown handicap 2 weeks ago. Highly respected here with Billy Loughnane booked.

Form: 179218-

(13)

Claritudo³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Kaiya Fraser⁽⁵⁾| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 74| D

10/3

Low-mileage 4-y-o who justified good support when making a winning return from 6 months off at Pontefract (12f, heavy) 31 days ago, leading over 1f out and well on top finish. Manner of that victory suggests he can do better still and fancied to be thereabouts from 6 lb higher mark.

Form: 14553-1

(11)

Swift Tuttle^h,t¹⁰⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: George Bass| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 73WS

40/1

Fairly useful in a light Flat campaign for Brian Meehan (maiden) but only minor promise in trio of juvenile hurdle runs for present stable. Had wind op ahead of this return to the Flat and the market may well prove a useful guide.

Form: 72784-

(9)

Punxsutawney Phil^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: J M Sheridan| T: B Ellison| OR: 73| D

28/1

Fairly useful winner at 17f over hurdles and won AW Flat maiden over 12f in December. Not been in anything like the same form in trio of starts since though, including when well held fifth in 6-runner Catterick handicap (13.8f) last month.

Form: 6/1-795

(5)

The Nu Form Way¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Davies| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 72| CD

11/2

Bagged a C&D handicap from 3 lb lower mark upon joining this yard last summer and he comes here having resumed winning ways at Beverley (9.9f) 15 days ago, just holding on from a subsequent winner. Booking of Harry Davies an eye-catching one here.

Form: 5050-51

(15)

Explorers Way³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Harry Russell| T: B Ellison| OR: 70

66/1

Maiden who showed fairly useful form for Joseph O'Brien during a light 2022 campaign. Hasn't scaled same heights in pair of starts for new yard though and others arrive with more pressing claims switched back to handicaps.

Form: 4226-44

Non-Runners

(10)

Australian Angel¹³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: Non Runner

(2)

Daheer¹⁰

Weight: 9-12| Age: 6

T: D M Loughnane J: Sean Kirrane

(7)

Aqwaam⁶

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: Saffie Osborne

(14)

Tessy Lad¹²⁸

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: R Hughes J: Non Runner

(8)

Whirlwind¹⁵⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Alec Voikhansky

Forecasts

By Your Side (85/40), Two Brothers (3/1), Claritudo (10/3), Greystoke (11/2), The Nu Form Way (11/2), Aqwaam (6/1), Australian Angel (10/1), Daheer (14/1), Whirlwind (14/1), Tessy Lad (14/1), Punxsutawney Phil (28/1), Swift Tuttle (40/1), State Legend (50/1), Brasca (66/1), Explorers Way (66/1), Heart Of Soul (100/1)

Plenty arrive with claims including Irish-raider BY YOUR SIDE. Steadily progressive on the level last term, he comes having run his best race yet over hurdles when runner-up in a big-field affair at Punchestown 2 weeks ago and it's most interesting his leading NH yard pitchs him in here with Billy Loughnane booked. Last-time-out winners Claritudo, and Two Brothers head up the dangers, with Greystoke another to note for Alan King.