Racecards
19:15 Chester
Ernst & Young Handicap (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 75y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £8,500 added
Whatizzit
36- Form 1/4222-3
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer E A L Dunlop
- Jockey J P Spencer
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 00-0956
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey S De Sousa
chased leaders, ridden to challenged over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, just held close home
Pirouetting
215- Form 231307-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Michael Hills
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 453126
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 74
held up in touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon ridden and under pressure, just held on
- Form 3260-86
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer Ms Deborah J Evans
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
slowly away, in rear, effort 3f out, never dangerous
- Form 133-305
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on
Top Seed (IRE)
153- Form 29856-0
- Age 6
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer A J Chamberlain
- Jockey Dean McKeown
held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous
Canina
155- Form 87600-9
- Age 4
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer Paul Green
- Jockey M Geran
chased leader and keen, ridden and lost place over 2f out
In depth
Verdict
Pirouetting is given a narrow vote in a wide open handicap, Whatizzit and Torrens could provide most danger. Barry Hills has an excellent record at this unique track and Pirouetting is now down to a very handy mark. She finished a close up third in a decent race at Sandown back in October, over this trip and on similar ground. She is two punds lower today and so a repeat effort should be good enough. Whatizzit doesn't know how to run a bad race and her recent third behind Nosferatu has been given a tremendous boost with the winner going in again. The draw is a slight concern with Ed Dunlop's charge but she should still be in the shake up. Torrens has gone well here in the past and although a little high in the weights he could still make the frame. Latif is well treated at present and there were signs of a form revival last time, but Pirouetting does look the pick of the weights today and she gets our vote.
Formwatch
Whatizzit 5-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, headway to chase winner from 3f out until over 1f out, one pace under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Nosferatu (9-3) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Red Lancer 8-1 (8-3) In touch, driven along in centre over 2f out, stayed on same pace after, 6th of 12, 6l behind Lake Poet (9-5) at Epsom 1m 2f hcap (2) gs.
Pirouetting 16-1 (8-4) Held up, switch right 2f out, kept on, not pace to challenge, 7th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Dubai On (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo fll hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Torrens (IRE) 8-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, soon ridden and kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Sound of Nature (9-4) at Leicester 1m 2f hcap (4) gf in May.
Latif (USA) 40-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway on outer over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 9l behind Wasalat (9-5) at Ripon 1m 2f hcap (5) gf.
Inside Story (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Wasalat (9-5) at Ripon 1m 2f hcap (5) gf.
Top Seed (IRE) 25-1 (9-6) In touch, chased leader over 3f out, hampered and carried wide on bend over 2f out, soon beaten, 12th of 14, 13l behind Street Life (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Canina 50-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 9th of 10, 12l behind Millfields Dreams (8-10) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.