Racecards
14:20 Chester
AEJIS Handicap (Class 3)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 7f 122y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £14,000 added
- Winner: £9,057
- 2nd: £2,695
- 3rd: £1,347
- 4th: £673
- Form 041217
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey Sammy Jo Bell
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon edged left, no impression on leaders, lost 3rd towards finish
- Form 7-89722
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, heavily eased
Apostle (IRE)
344- Form 902075-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
switched left soon after start, held up in rear, ridden 3f out, no headway
- Form 416321
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey Barry McHugh
led, ridden over 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, slightly brushed by winner close home, just held
- Form 733222
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 85
always prominent, ridden over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, edged left, slightly brushed rival close home, held on
Conry (IRE)
319- Form 343011-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey S Donohoe
held up, took keen hold, always towards rear
- Form 115
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
mid-division, pushed along 3f out, lost place over 2f out
- Form 131305
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey David Probert
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, no chance with leading pair
- Form 530864
- Age 8
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Mrs R Carr
- Jockey Jason Hart
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, one pace final 2f
- Form 8-93045
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 82
mid-division on outside, closed over 4f out, ridden 3f out, hung left and no impression from over 1f out
- Form 068057
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 77
slowly into stride, soon switched left, held up in rear, switched right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never nearer
- Form 772903
- Age 7
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer A Hollinshead
- Jockey R Kennemore
held up, always towards rear
Verdict
The Koukash colours are prominent as is the norm at this track nowadays and Mehdi makes more appeal off his current mark than both Apostle and Gatepost. Alejandro and Kingscroft could have been better drawn while Balty Boys will find this tougher than the claimer he won at Beverley last time albeit by seven lengths. Conroy returns to action off an 11lb higher mark but Ocean Tempest could figure and Spin Artist has leading claims back over 7f. However, YOU DA ONE won a higher grade handicap at Goodwood back in May and with scope for further improvement this year, the three-year-old gets a speculative vote in a wide-open affair.
Formwatch
Alejandro (IRE) 11-2 (8-10) Disputed lead until ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 7l behind Clockmaker (8-11) at Chester 1m hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Mehdi (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Raced near side, always prominent, went 2nd in group over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Clear Spring (9-7) at Ripon 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Apostle (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Close up centre, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Jake's Destiny (8-13) at Ascot 1m stks 0-90 (3) sft in Oct.
Balty Boys (IRE) 7-4fav (9-10) Made all, clear inside final furlong, eased towards finish, won at Beverley 7f clm stks (5) gd in Aug beating Llewellyn (9-5) by 7l, 8 ran.
Ocean Tempest 9-2 (9-9) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Uppercut (9-3) at Kempton 1m app hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Conry (IRE) 7-2fav (8-10) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, switched right and led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Catterick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct beating Kingscroft (9-7) by 7l, 10 ran.
Spin Artist (USA) 11-4fav (8-12) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 7l behind Zero Money (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
You Da One 8-1 (9-7) Went left start, with leader, ridden over 1f out, no extra last 50 yards, 5th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Morpheus (9-1) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
Al Muheer (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 4l behind Consign (9-6) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Gatepost (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, headway towards far side over 2f out, soon challenged, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 4l behind Pacific Heights (9-3) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jul.
Mr Red Clubs (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) In rear, headway 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 7th of 11, 7l behind Elhaame (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Aug.
One Scoop Or Two 33-1 (9-3) Pushed along to chase leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Multi Bene (9-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Kingscroft (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 11, 11l behind Bop It (9-4) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs.