Racecards
15:15 Chester
tote+ Chester Cup Handicap (Class 2)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 140y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places )
- Surface: Turf
- £151,000 added
- Winner: £77,310
- 2nd: £36,255
- 3rd: £18,135
- 4th: £9,060
- Form 4534/19-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 109
in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
- Form 32036-6
- Age 8
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Jim Crowley
raced very wide 2f until switched left to track leader, ridden and weakened over 1f out
- Form 02816-1
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer H Palmer
- Jockey Harry Davies
dwelt soon close up, effort on inner entering final furlong, stayed on
- Form 01078-4
- Age 8
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Alistair Rawlinson
towards rear, dropped to rear halfway, never a factor
- Form 551/5
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey R L Moore
held up towards rear, headway on inner from 3f out until switched right approaching final furlong to chase leader, ridden to lead towards finish
- Form 231/319-
- Age 8
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer J Queally
- Jockey J P Spencer
keen early, held up in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on one pace final furlong
- Form 19/26-42
- Age 5
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Rob Hornby
tracked leader 2f, tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed towards finish
- Form 25-9201
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey Connor Beasley
dwelt towards rear, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
Torcello (IRE)
187- Form 610510-
- Age 8
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 92
led, pushed along 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, no extra
- Form 1601-67
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 91
keen in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
- Form 9/31901-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer Rae Guest
- Jockey George Rooke
raced wide tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 04861-4
- Age 8
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 90
held up in touch, weakened 3f out
- Form 28210-3
- Age 4
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer H Palmer
- Jockey B A Curtis
took keen hold, close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Haliphon
13- Form 847-464
- Age 5
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey R Ffrench
raced wide held up, headway 7f out, chased leaders 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 42-2314
- Age 6
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Non Runner
NonRunner
- Form 663732-
- Age 11
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Non Runner
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
The Grand Visir is 8lb better off than when beaten a couple of lengths by Falcon Eight in this last year but the latter is much better drawn and arrives off the back of a good run in a Grade 3 over hurdles. Hugo Palmer has decent claims with the Ripon winner and Epsom third Solent Gateway, who has won around here. Connections of It's Good To Laugh will also have been encouraged by the rain earlier this week as their five-year-old won over 1m4f on soft going here last year and over 2m4f over hurdles in January while Coltrane won the valuable Melrose at York in 2020. Cleveland is a fascinating runner after a pipe-opener at Naas but stamina might be an issue whereas fellow Irish raider ARCADIAN SUNRISE beat Rajinsky over 2m at York in August under Jamie Spencer. He is having a first run since October but John Queally will have him ready for this.
Formwatch
Falcon Eight (IRE) 10-3fav (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, 5th halfway, closer and left 3rd 3 out, 2nd entering straight, 3rd and pushed along after 2 out, switched left run-in, ridden and kept on well, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Bronn (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Apr.
The Grand Visir 4-1 (9-8) In touch in rear, pushed along over 2f out, not trouble leaders, last of 6, 2 1/4l behind Halimi (8-13) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Rajinsky (IRE) 11-4 (9-13) Prominent, strongly pressed leader over 3f out, pushed along well over 2f out, ridden and led well over 1f out, kept on strongly and edged left inside last, always doing enough, won at Ripon 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Get Shirty (9-10) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Reshoun (FR) 13-2 (9-5) Raced wide close up, lost place over 6f out, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 6, 1 1/4l behind Halimi (8-13) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Cleveland (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and closer on far side 2f out, under pressure in 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Layfayette (9-10) at Naas 1m 2f lst stks (1) Yielding in Mar.
Arcadian Sunrise (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Held up in rear, some progress entering straight, pushed along 3f out, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, 9th of 18, 14l behind Yaxeni (9-12) at Naas 2m hcp hvy in Oct.
Coltrane (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, driven over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Earlofthecotswolds (9-5) at Kempton 2m stks (2) pol in Mar.
It's Good To Laugh (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders on inside, jumped left at times, hit 4 out, weakening when mistake next, 5th of 9, 20 1/4l behind Nells Son (11-3) at Kelso 2m 2f (1) sft in Mar.
Torcello (IRE) 18-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders early, improved to dispute lead after 2f, headed halfway, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 12th of 18, 15 3/4l behind Yaxeni (9-12) at Naas 2m hcp hvy in Oct.
Morph Speed (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, pushed along in 8th 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, never a factor, 7th of 9, 8 1/4l behind Breaking Story (8-7) at Limerick 1m hcp gd in Apr.
Land Of Winter (FR) 17-2 (9-13) Prominent, travelled strongly to press leader over 3f out, edged ahead over 2f out, pushed well clear over 1f out, eased close home, won at Nottingham 2m hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Tralee Hills (9-7) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Solo Saxophone (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Towards rear on inside, struggling in rear 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, 23l behind Vive Le Roi (10-1) at Newbury 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Solent Gateway (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Towards rear, headway on inner 3f out, not clear run over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, ran on, not reach leaders, 3rd of 9, 1/4l behind Going Gone (9-4) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Haliphon 7-2 (9-4) In rear, effort and headway under 3f out, pushed along and hung right well over 1f out, ran on but never on terms, 4th of 6, 4 1/4l behind Rajinsky (9-13) at Ripon 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Nate The Great 12-1 (9-5) In touch in mid-division, improved over 3f out, not quicken 2f out, went 4th and kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Earlofthecotswolds (9-5) at Newcastle 2m stks (2) pol in Apr.
Metier (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Led after 1st, headed bypassing omitted 2 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 11, 16 1/4l behind Cormier (10-7) at Kelso 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Byron Flyer 11-1 (10-3) Dwelt, pushed along and soon close up, lost place 5f out, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Going Gone (9-1) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.