Racecards
16:45 Chester
Totesport Betxtra Handicap (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 195y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Form 0-51717
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer W R Muir
- Jockey D J O'Donohoe
chased leaders, ridden from 7f out, weakened over 3f out, soon well behind, tailed off, virtually pulled up inside final furlong
- Form 6/3-3296
- Age 5
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey P Hills
chased leader, ridden to lead 1f out, headed post
- Form 421-445
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey S Donohoe
in touch, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and outpaced by leading pair over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 0700/61
- Age 7
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 65
led, headed 1f out, rallied under strong driving inside final furlong to regain lead post
- Form 558525
- Age 8
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey E Ahern
towards rear, bustled along early, ridden over 4f out, went 3rd over 1f out, no chance with front pair
Lyon's Hill
70- Form 72-0
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 49
- Trainer M Mullineaux
- Jockey K May
towards rear, reminders 9f out, lost touch 6f out, tailed off
- Form 8-00747
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer N J Vaughan
- Jockey Stacey Renwick
held up and behind, ridden 5f out, lost touch 4f out, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Trainer Mark Brisbourne has won this race twice in the last three years and Merrymaker can bring him another success; Rock 'N' Roller and Vanquisher are also respected. The selection is the only course and distance winner in the field and he confirmed his well-being when he finished second behind Kyber at Musselburgh last time. His best form is on a faster surface but this is not a strong contest and he should be up to winning it. Rock 'N' Roller is the obvious alternative as he will go on the ground, but he ran a shocker at Pontefract last time and that run will have to be forgiven. Vanquisher has got some consistent form, albeit at a moderate level, and he may be good enough to run into a place. Nicky Vaughan's Don Jose is worth a market check as the yard are going great guns, but we will nominate Merrymaker as the pick.
Formwatch
Rock 'n' Roller (FR) 4-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, soon eased, 7th of 9, 34l behind Aphorism (9-9) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Command Marshal (FR) 15-2 (9-1) Held up, some headway 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 12l behind Alnwick (8-12) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp 0-75 (5) frm in Jun.
Vanquisher (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no impression from over 1f out, 5th of 9, 5l behind La Vecchia Scuola (9-1) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Keelung (USA) 6-1 (9-5) Made all, clear after 3f, pushed out final furlong, unchallenged, won at Warwick 1m 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft beating Sea Admiral (8-11) by 14l, 6 ran.
Merrymaker 7-2 (9-2) Slowly into stride, headway 6f out, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 6, 39l behind Keelung (9-5) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Lyon's Hill 66-1 (9-13) In touch, outpaced 3f out, soon beaten, 10th of 12, 17l behind Criterion (8-8) at Thirsk 1m 4f mdn stk (5) gd in May.
Don Jose (USA) 12-1 (7-9) Held up, outpaced over 3f out, 7th of 14, 11l behind Bijou Dan (8-12) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Corum (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Always behind, weakened over 1f out, tailed off, 4th of 6, 27l behind Keelung (9-5) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.