Racecards
15:05 Chester
Stellar Group Handicap (Class 2)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 5f 16y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £22,500 added
- Winner: £14,177
- 2nd: £4,244
- 3rd: £2,122
- 4th: £1,062
- Form 124600-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer K A Ryan
- Jockey J P Spencer
chased leader, ridden 2f out, lost 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, lost 3rd close home
- Form 2240-06
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey P Mulrennan
in touch, headway when hampered on inside and snatched up 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, ridden out
- Form 20980-3
- Age 10
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
off the pace towards rear, headway on inside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, unable to reach leaders
- Form 192822-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 94
badly hampered start, behind, not recover
- Form 0067-42
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer Tom Dascombe
- Jockey R Kingscote
started slowly, always behind
- Form 38020-5
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Shirley Teasdale
chased leaders, ridden on outside 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 240800-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey P Hanagan
mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no threat
- Form 0100-20
- Age 8
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
hung right throughout, led, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace
- Form 2660-20
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 90
towards rear, moderate headway inside final furlong, never on terms
- Form 00-8229
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer K A Ryan
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
started slowly and went badly left start, always behind
- Form 14801-5
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer E De Giles
- Jockey J P Fahy
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no threat
- Form 0508-71
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey Laura Barry
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish
- Form 663097-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 88
outpaced, never a factor
- Form 00707-0
- Age 5
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer P D Evans
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
outpaced, never on terms
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Despite having won just once in the past three years, Tax Free will be fancied for this as he's drawn in stall one and should be up with the pace from the start. Last year's winner Doctor Parkes is only 3lb higher but arrived in winning form that day and is without a prep race this time. Falasteen isn't badly treated and Kieren Fallon should be able to get a good position from stall four, though he sometimes gets left at the gate, but the lightly-raced and progressive Dickie's Lad ran poorly on his only start on ground with some give. Jamesway has just one victory from 18 starts on turf but looks quite well treated and made a decent comeback at Epsom on easy ground. Blue Jack ran well in the race a year ago and comes here in good form but it's CONFESSIONAL, fourth last year when out with the washing in stall 12, who is handed the vote as he's ideally berthed and the handicapper has given him a chance again.
Formwatch
Lexi's Hero (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) With leader, every chance over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 16th of 20, 11l behind Sirius Prospect (9-5) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gd in Oct.
Confessional 5-2fav (8-10) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, edged left and soon headed, weakened inside furlong, 6th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Mirza (8-7) at Newbury 5f hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Tax Free (IRE) 10-1 (9-8) Tracked leading pair, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, eased when held near finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Jonny Mudball (9-1) at Nottingham 5f cond Stakes (3) gs in Apr.
Dickie's Lad (IRE) 9-4fav (9-7) Attempted to make all, ridden over 1f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong and headed on line, 2nd of 11, ns behind Farmleigh House (7-13) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Dec.
Blue Jack 6-1 (8-7) Held up in touch, headway entering final furlong, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Mirza (8-7) at Newbury 5f hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Fitz Flyer (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) With leader, led well over 1f out, soon headed, kept on one pace, 5th of 22, 3l behind Colonel Mak (9-0) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Doctor Parkes 40-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, effort well over 1f out, soon lost place, 18th of 20, 14l behind Sirius Prospect (9-5) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gd in Oct.
Foxy Music 100-1 (9-0) Dwelt soon in touch, ridden and weakened halfway, 14th of 16, 18l behind Mayson (9-0) at Newmarket 5f Grp 3 (1) gs.
Bathwick Bear (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) Pressed leader stands side, ridden and effort over 1f out, lost place inside final furlong, weakened final 50 yards, 18th of 24, 8l behind Maarek (9-8) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gs.
Falasteen (IRE) 17-2 (9-1) Restless stalls and jumped awkwardly, slow into stride, always in rear, 9th of 10, 7l behind Taajub (9-5) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Living It Large (FR) 12-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened and lost 4th place final 75 yards, 5th of 14, 4l behind Cadeaux Pearl (8-11) at Epsom Downs 5f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Apr.
Arctic Feeling (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Chased leaders, pushed along 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr beating Fair Passion (8-13) by shd, 7 ran.
Partner (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Towards rear, some headway on outer to go moderate 8th over 1f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 14, 13l behind Below Zero (8-11) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Aug.
Star Rover (IRE) 28-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, effort & weakened over 1f out, 14th of 22, 9l behind Colonel Mak (9-0) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Jamesway (IRE) 5-1fav (8-13) Mid-division, headway entering final furlong, ridden inside final 150 yards, kept on to take 4th final 75 yards, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Cadeaux Pearl (8-11) at Epsom Downs 5f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Apr.