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15:20 Chester

Breitling Watches & Waltons Of Chester Handicap (Class 2)

  • 14 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 2f 75y
  • Going: Good to Firm
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 12.82s
  • 14 Ran
1(4)
Silk - Turquoise, Burgundy hooped sleeves, Gold cap

Ofaraby

14 D
7/1
  • Form 24218-7
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-4
  • Official Rating 99

chased leaders, ridden 2f out, ran on inside final furlong

2(14)
Silk - Emerald Green, Red stripe, halved sleeves, Emerald Green and Red striped cap
14/1
  • Form 484-185
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-1
  • Official Rating 96

always towards rear

3(6)
Silk - Orange, Black chevrons, Orange sleeves, Black seams, quartered cap
25/1
  • Form 04170-0
  • Age 6
  • Weight 8-11
  • Official Rating 92

reluctant to race and tailed off at start, pulled hard when headway and hung right after 2f, ridden over 2f out, weakened quickly

4(8)
Silk - Red, White stars, diabolo on sleeves and stars on cap
11/2
  • Form 237-203
  • Age 5
  • Weight 8-11
  • Official Rating 92

made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on

5(13)
Silk - Red, Yellow braces, White sleeves and cap
33/1
  • Form 010380-
  • Age 5
  • Weight 8-10
  • Official Rating 91

steadied and switched left start, held up, ridden and headway when switched right over 1f out, kept on same pace

6(5)
Silk - Maroon, Mauve epaulets
  • Form 1/1-7
  • Age 5
  • Weight 8-8
  • Official Rating 89

in touch, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong

7(7)
Silk - Emerald Green, Red sash, Yellow sleeves and cap

Fairmile

22 D
9/1
  • Form 64/119-0
  • Age 4
  • Weight 8-7
  • Official Rating 88

held up, keen, not much room after 2f, not clear run over 1f out, never dangerous

8(12)
Silk - Orange, Beige epaulets and star on cap

Alfie Noakes

218 D
14/1
  • Form 53/1979-
  • Age 4
  • Weight 8-5
  • Official Rating 86

mid-division, headway after 2f, ridden over 2f out, no extra towards finish

9(2)
Silk - Purple, Red stars
  • Form 16060-0
  • Age 4
  • Weight 8-5
  • Official Rating 86

mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened

10(3)
Silk - Red, Black star, White and Black hooped sleeves, Red cap, Black star
  • Form 340-206
  • Age 5
  • Weight 8-5
  • Official Rating 86

mid-division, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never reached leaders

11(9)
Silk - Royal blue, white hoops, white sleeves, royal blue diamonds, royal blue cap
  • Form 2252-
  • Age 4
  • Weight 8-4
  • Official Rating 85

mid-division, ridden, edged left over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

12(10)
Silk - White, Red sash, Red and White striped cap

Nice Tune

25 D
7/1
  • Form 2-14123
  • Age 4
  • Weight 8-4
  • Official Rating 85

in touch, ridden 2f out, chased winner, edged left 1f out, ran on

13(1)
Silk - White, Emerald Green chevrons, spots on sleeves, hooped cap
20/1
  • Form 22037-9
  • Age 4
  • Weight 8-4
  • Official Rating 84

prominent, ridden, carried head high over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

14(11)
Silk - White, Red diamond, Grey sleeves, Red cap
16/1
  • Form 004-016
  • Age 7
  • Weight 8-4
  • Official Rating 84

behind, ridden, headway over 1f out, ran on, nearest at finish

In depth

Verdict

Ofaraby gave the impression that he would come on for the run when seventh of nine on his reappearance at Epsom and has to be respected from stall four but a chance is taken with Divine Gift, who has more solid claims on form but is not as well drawn and is preferred to Artistic Style. The last mentioned made a promising return in Kempton's Rosebery Handicap and should come on for the run. Focus Group is less exposed than most of these after just three career outings but would probably want a softer surface. Fairmile was entitled to need the run first time out and is another open to improvement, while Nice Tune has been running well on the all-weather of late but is now probably a shade high in the weights. Tiger Tiger is another that could do with some help from the handicapper and the vote goes to Divine Gift. Kevin Ryan could hardly have his string in better form right now and the selection is no exception having lost little in defeat on his return to turf at Epsom last time. A reproduction of that effort may suffice.

Formwatch

Ofaraby 6-1 (9-4) Dwelt, held up in last place, never reached challenging position, 7th of 9, 7l behind All That And More (8-7) at Epsom 1m 2f hcap (2) gd in Apr.

Tiger Tiger (FR) 10-1 (9-1) Close up, ridden over 3f out, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 9, 4l behind Sri Diamond (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb.

Artistic Style 66-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 12th of 16, 9l behind Kandidate (9-10) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr.

Divine Gift 7-1 (8-12) Chased winner, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind All That And More (8-7) at Epsom 1m 2f hcap (2) gd in Apr.

Temple Place (IRE) 500-1 (9-4) Led and disputed, headed 4f out, weakened quickly, virtually pulled up straight, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Oratorio (8-11) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Sept.

Focus Group (USA) 6-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, 7th of 12, 11l behind Fortunate Isle (8-7) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-95 (3) hvy in Apr.

Fairmile 10-1 (8-11) Held up, headway over 4f out, weakened well over 1f out, 12th of 16, 17l behind Mikao (8-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr.

Alfie Noakes 17-2 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 12l behind Kerashan (9-0) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Oct.

Diamonds And Dust 33-1 (8-3) Always rear of main group, 19th of 25, 8l behind Forgery (8-6) at Newbury 1m hcap (2) gd in Apr.

Sew'n'so Character (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 6th of 14, 2l behind Hail The Chief (9-8) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Apr.

Magnum Opus (IRE) (9-4) Led to halfway, dropped back, stayed on again, 2nd of 6, hd behind San Real (9-4) at Toulouse 1m 3f stk gs in Oct.

Nice Tune 7-1 (8-12) Behind, stayed on final 2f, not reach leaders, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Royal Alchemist (8-12) at Kempton 1m lst fll stk (1) pol in Apr.

Kames Park (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden and switched left 2f out, not much room over 1f out and inside final furlong, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 10l behind Active Asset (8-6) at Haydock 1m 3f hcap (4) gd in Apr.

Yakimov (USA) 10-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, good headway on outside from 3f out, slight lead inside final 2f, headed approaching final furlong, no extra, 6th of 12, 5l behind Top Seed (8-7) at Bath 1m 4f hcap (4) gd in Apr.