15:15 Chester

Saturday 30 August 2025

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 1m 29.98s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Al Shabab Storm⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Marco Ghiani| T: M Botti| OR: 109| C

12/1

Group 3 winner last year for Andrew Balding and proved better than ever on form when third in a handicap from this mark at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start. Too free at Newcastle last week but not ruled out with low draw a positive.

Form: 19-3930

(13)

Golden Mind^t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 100

8/1

Creditable fourth of 21 in a 7f Ascot handicap in July and swiftly got back on the up when winning a 14-runner handicap under this claimer (9/1) at Newcastle (7.1f) 9 days ago. Up only 2 lb but wide draw is perhaps a bigger concern.

Form: 920461

(5)

Witch Hunter⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 99

13/2

Narrowly beaten in a Newbury Group 2 last season but has edged back down the weights and got back on track when 2¼ lengths sixth of 14 to Golden Mind in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f, 15/2) 9 days ago, despite not being ideally placed. Considered.

Form: 607006

(4)

Crown Board⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: George Wood| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 97

12/1

Lightly-raced 5-y-o who was successful on only start at 3 yrs and stepped up on last season's return when a good fourth in listed company at Sandown (1m). Tried over a variety of trips without much success this season and others are preferred.

Form: 1/64-709

(10)

Two Tempting²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 96| CD

8/1

Back on the scoreboard at C&D in May but not really threatened since, albeit caught much wider than ideal at Ascot 3 weeks ago. Could make more of an impact back at last winning mark, though is again drawn wide.

Form: 418089

(6)

The Waco Kid^t,v1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: H Palmer| OR: 101

18/1

Took his form up a notch with Group 3 success at Newmarket (7f, heavy) last autumn, but seemingly hasn't trained on and made no impact on handicap debut at Goodwood last time. Visor goes on.

Form: 10-7060

(8)

Yanifer⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: H Bethell| OR: 92| C| D

11/1

Dual winner at 7f here arrives in good form, finding only one too good again in a 10-runner handicap at Doncaster (7f, good, 9/2) 42 days ago. Respected from unchanged mark.

Form: 58-7722

(7)

Hawksbill^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Hart| T: H Palmer| OR: 97| BF| D

9/2

Progressed when beaten only a nose by Sir Paul Ramsey in a 10-runner handicap at Haydock (8.2f, good to firm) 21 days ago, headed only late on having looked to have made his effort earlier than ideal. Cheekpieces go on and he's highly respected dropped back in trip.

Form: 6-22092

(11)

El Burhan^t⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Harry Davies| T: G Boughey| OR: 95| CD

14/1

Useful effort when edging a bunched finish in a C&D handicap on reappearance. Not in same form upped in trip at Royal Ascot next time but it remains early days and it would be no surprise to see him get back on the up.

Form: 4113-10

(2)

Sir Paul Ramsey⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 89| D

11/4

Much improved this season, gaining his second win of the campaign when gamely edging out Hawksbill at Haydock (8.2f) earlier this month. Progressed further when a close third in a 17-runner handicap at York (7.9f, good to firm) 8 days ago and he's still shortlisted from out of the weights.

Form: 761013

Non-Runners

(12)

Array³⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: Non Runner

(9)

Thunder Roar¹¹¹

Weight: 8-11| Age: 6

T: T Coyle & K Wood J: Cieren Fallon

(1)

Flying Finn⁸⁵

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: A Keatley J: Zak Wheatley

(14)

Perfect Part⁹

Weight: 8-3| Age: 3

T: B Ellison J: D Fentiman

Forecasts

Sir Paul Ramsey (11/4), Hawksbill (9/2), Witch Hunter (13/2), Two Tempting (8/1), Golden Mind (8/1), Yanifer (11/1), Crown Board (12/1), Al Shabab Storm (12/1), Thunder Roar (12/1), Array (12/1), El Burhan (14/1), Flying Finn (16/1), The Waco Kid (18/1), Perfect Part (25/1)

HAWKSBILL came out on the wrong side of a photo with Sir Paul Ramsey when the pair met at Haydock earlier in the month but Hugo Palmer's gelding can turn the tables, the drop to 7f looking suitable for his enthusiastic style. Sir Paul Ramsey himself is considered after another fine effort at York last week, with the potentially well-treated Witch Hunter and the in-form Yanifer also appealing at each-way prices.