Chester Preview Blog
Friday 13th June 2025
1.40: Hrs Cladding Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap: We get things underway at Chester on Friday with the 1.40, and this is a Class 4 amateur jockeys handicap which is contested over seven furlongs. This will be extremely competitive; however, OUTRUN THE STORM is the first one that stands out here for me, who represents Richard Fahey and is set to be ridden by Eireann Cagney, who isn’t a stranger to the winner’s enclosure. He won the race last year under Cagney off an eight-pound higher mark, and if he has to be respected back here on today’s terms. He’s also got a nice draw in stall three and should give a good account of himself here.
Ultramarine is the most in-form horse in the race, coming into the contest off the back of two victories for David Evans, and he holds obvious claims if in the same form and will be a big threat to all. Elsewhere, Bay Breeze was also a winner last time out and can go well again here, which is also the case for Touchwood, who won comfortably on the all-weather on his previous start and is respected here under a penalty for the in-form Ruth Carr.
Shortlist: Outrun The Storm, Ultramarine, Touchwood, Bay Breeze
2.15: Tmt Group Handicap: The second race of the afternoon is the 2.15 and this is a Class 5 handicap for three-year-olds which is set to be ridden over a distance of six furlongs. TOP JUGGLER looks to be a good starting point here for the team of John & Sean Quinn and the mount of James Sullivan. He’s a maiden winner on soft ground, so won’t mind if the going still has cut in it, as is the case at the time of writing. He posted a solid effort on his seasonal reappearance at Hamilton when finishing fourth of fourteen, and should build on that here under a nice draw in stall two.
The Hugo Palmer trained Arabian Cobra tops the weights here on the back of his victory at Thirsk last time out; he still looks to have significant progression to come; however, he’ll need to be at the top of his game from his stall and under a penalty. His yard does like having winners around here, though. Rock N Roll Rocket is another last time out winner, having won at Wolverhampton last month, and he looks a big player from stall one off just three pounds higher now back on the turf. Julie Camacho sends Hundred Caps here who is another who comes into the race in form having won last time, beating the progressive Cape Sovereign at Beverly, and that form looks solid.
Shortlist: Top Juggler, Arabian Cobra, Rock N Roll Rocket
2.50: White Oak UK Business Finance Selling Stakes: We move on to the 2.50, which is a Class 4 selling event that’s ridden over a distance of seven furlongs. Last time out winner JACK THE TOOTH should have a big say here for George Scott and Callum Shepherd. He progressed from his racecourse debut to get his head in front at Leicester earlier this month, with that success coming on fast ground. However, he’s by Twilight Son, who had plenty of top-level form on a soft surface. Stall six isn’t overly concerning, and he should be posting a bold bid.
His main danger looks to come from the other previous winner in the field, Davvy, for David Evans and John Egan. He’s got course form at the course, having finished fourth here within maiden company at the May Festival and followed up by getting the better of an odds-on shot in Calafiori at Redcar last month. He should continue to progress and looks like a huge player here. Reception and Strength Of Spirit are both open to improvement on their second starts here.
Shortlist: Jack The Tooth, Davvy, Reception, Strength Of Spirit
3.25: Deepbridge Capital Handicap: The fourth race of the afternoon is the 3.25, and this is a Class 4 handicap which is contested over a distance of a mile and two and a half furlongs. We start off here with MAGELLAN CLOUD, who’s another for John & Sean Quinn and the mount of James Sullivan. He was a big eyecatcher over course and distance last time out, finishing second of nine and a length and a half behind War Hawk, making rapid headway within the closing stages. The further trip seemed to bring out further improvement, and he’s got every chance of getting even closer on this occasion off just a two-pound higher mark.
Topteam looks likely to be a big threat to all here for Andrew Balding and P J McDonald, he won impressively over course and distance last time out, and the manner of victory suggests that a seven-pound rise in the weights might not be enough to stop him. The David O’Meara trained Raulin looks another to note, he won on his handicap debut and finished a solid third next time at Thirsk over twelve furlongs, the drop back down to ten seems to be the right move for him, and he can have a say.
Shortlist: Magellan Cloud, Topteam, Raulin
4.00: White Oak UK Business Finance Handicap: We have more competitive handicap action at 4.00 with a Class 5 handicap that’s ridden over seven and a half furlongs. Last year’s winner, BERKSHIRE PHANTOM, looks an interesting runner here for Fionn McSharry and the ride of Alex Jary, taking off five pounds. He won this race off a massive fourteen-pound higher mark last term, and whilst he hasn’t been able to get his head in front since, he hasn’t been beaten too far in the majority of his runs since his last success. He gets a further five coming off his back via his rider, and he does look very well treated. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see another big run, and he may be a big price.
Rwenearlytheredad looks to have a huge say here as he comes into the race in fine form, having won his previous three starts for Declan Carroll, including on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle last month, where he won by a length and a quarter. He’s got a nice stall here in two, and a four-pound rise might not be enough to stop his current rate of progression. Ravenglass is another who’s in form; he represents Adrian Wintle and Finley Marsh; he’s got an obvious chance but will have to navigate stall twelve.
Shortlist: Berkshire Phantom, Rwenearlytheredad, Ravenglass
4.35: White Oak UK Business Finance Handicap: The penultimate race of the afternoon is the 4.35 and this is division two of the seven and a half furlong Class 5 handicap. The fourteen-race maiden THAT’S MY BOY LUKE could finally have his day in the sun here for Tim Easterby and Sean Kirrane. He’s gone close in his last two outings, both coming at Beverley, and both coming over a mile and a half. The drop back down in trip by a furlong could be what’s needed here, given how he slightly faded in the closing stages in each of those starts, and he also has the plum draw in stall one. It looks set up for a big run.
Dappled Light has a serious chance for Adrian Wintle and Finley Marsh, as he comes into the contest having won his last two starts, both runs coming over a mile. A four-pound rise may not be enough to stop him, and stall five isn’t too much of a concern for him. Harriet Bethell’s Original Thinker bounced back to form on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle, beating Naval Academy by a length, and has every chance of going well again from stall three under Richard Kingscote.
Shortlist: That’s My Boy Luke, Dappled Light, Original Thinker
5.10: Going Is Good Handicap: Signing the card off for the day will be the 5.10, and we have Class 4 handicap action that’s contested over seven and a half furlongs. IMPARTIALITY sets the standard here for the combination of Phillip Makin and Kevin Stott. He comes into the contest in great form, winning both of his starts since returning from his break, and his latest success at Hamilton could be marked up as he didn’t get a clear run, yet still kept on well to win. He’s up four pounds here, but that could look lenient, and he also has a promising draw being in stall two.
Magna Grecia Star should have more to offer for James Tate and Billy Loughnane, and could prove better than this level in time, he also has the plum draw in stall one. Whereas Tactical Plan is likely to build on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock last time, where he finished fifth of nine. Barry’s Bay will have to navigate a wide draw, but he comes into the race on the back of success at Windsor last time out, so he’s not without a chance again.
Shortlist: Impartiality, Magna Grecia Star, Tactical Plan
