16:05 Chester

Saturday 14 September 2024

All13:3514:0514:4015:2016:0516:4017:1517:55

Virgin Bet Handicap

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 2m 16.73s

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(8)

City Streak⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Harry Davies| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| CD

18/1

Boasts an excellent record here, gaining a second C&D success in May. Found things tougher from inflated mark both starts thereafter but the assessor has eased his grip a little and no surprise to see a better showing back here/returning from a break.

Form: 19-2107

(2)

Maghlaak²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 89| D

4/1

Overcame an 11-month absence to land 8-runner Goodwood handicap (9.9f, soft) in May. Hasn't quite kicked on as may have been expected in trio of starts since but latest third upped to 12f was up there with his best. Entitled to give another good account. Blinkers discarded.

Form: 32-1753

(9)

Have Secret^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| D

11/2

Winless since his juvenile days but hard to knock his consistency, his latest sixth in big-field York handicap (10.2f) deserving of being marked up having been stuck on the outside. Cheekpieces again the headgear of choice and he's respected with conditions holding no fears.

Form: 55-2336

(3)

Zarabanda⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Robinson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88| D

14/1

Successful 3 times in 2023. Form in-and-out this season but better effort with sights lowered when fourth of 10 in handicap (11/1) at Haydock (10.2f, good) 9 days ago. Eased a little more in the weights ahead of this.

Form: 848474

(6)

Paddy The Squire^t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 87| D

9/2

Useful form at 3 yrs (winner at 10f). Seemingly not the easiest to train but produced a highly encouraging effort after 12 months off/following wind op when second of 9 in handicap at Hamilton (9.2f, good) 32 days ago, keeping on well. Still low mileage and there could be more to come.

Form: 02212-2

(4)

Loyal Touch¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 86| CD

15/2

Well served by run of race when resuming winning ways over C&D in June. Kept busy and more miss than hit thereafter but recent efforts from a sliding mark have been a bit more like it. Conditions will hold no fears but others appeal a little more for win purposes.

Form: 070763

(5)

Stressfree⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S D Bowen⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84| BF| D

9/2

Heavy ground winner on final start at 3yrs and showing encouraging signs of late, big effort when third at York (10.2f) in July. Probably best not judged too harshly on latest Ayr third behind more prominently-ridden rivals and respected under good-value claimer.

Form: 400233

(7)

Gallant Lion⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: A J Farragher| T: A King| OR: 82| D

16/1

Racked up a 4-timer last summer for Tony Carroll and shaped up well initially for new stable earlier this season. May of found race coming too soon when seventh in Cumberland Plate at Carlisle in June and he's the type to give a good account back from a break.

Form: 50-3647

(1)

First Officer³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 79| D

15/2

Made a winning reappearance at Windsor in April and largely creditable efforts in defeat since, not beaten at all far when seventh in handicap back at that venue 30 days ago. Mark does look about right, however.

Form: 145727

Forecasts

Maghlaak (4/1), Stressfree (9/2), Paddy The Squire (9/2), Have Secret (11/2), First Officer (15/2), Loyal Touch (15/2), Zarabanda (14/1), Gallant Lion (16/1), City Streak (18/1)

STRESSFREE was unable to land a blow when third behind more prominently-ridden rivals at Ayr last time yet he had previously shaped most encouragingly in handicaps at Doncaster/York and, lurking on a handy mark, he's fancied to be seen in a much better light on this occasion. Have Secret and Paddy The Squire are others to consider, along with Maghlaak.