August 03 / 16.22 Chester

16.22

Good

Oktoberfest Season Finale On 20th September Classified Claiming Stakes

  • Prize money: £10308
  • 0m 7f 127y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
Oktoberfest Season Finale On 20th September Classified Claiming Stakes

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

1st
9 (12)
Abduction

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 244174

Last run: 6 days

W: 8st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Regained the winning thread at Hamilton (6f) in June and caught the eye under Shay Farmer at Ayr (7f) last Monday; could go well, with rider again taking off a handy 7lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(11)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

18:15 Hamilton

Abduction

9st 5lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Jim Goldie

Won over C&D off this mark last summer but does most racing now over further and wants a good test at this trip; said to have run flat last time but does have his good and bad days now for a yard responsible for two others; 2-4 for Kaiya Fraser.

12/1

8th

9

(6)

26th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

17:45 Musselburgh

Abduction

9st 0lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Jim Goldie

Won at Newcastle (7f, AW) in January and close fourth at Wolverhampton (7f, AW) in February before winning over this C&D (good) a fortnight ago; it was a tight finish but he's gone up just 2lb; again in calculations.

9/2

1st

7

(4)

12th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

18:15 Musselburgh

Abduction

9st 5lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Jim Goldie

6lb lower than when winning from a poor draw at Chester (7.6f, good to firm) last August and just 1lb higher than when successful at Newcastle (7f, AW) in January; ran well when a close fourth of 12 at Wolverhampton (7f, AW) last time and capable of playing a part; stable also runs Kelpie Grey.

7/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 836415

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Ran creditably in big field at York last weekend when bidding to follow up his Catterick win (7f, good to soft); remains in form but this looks a tough assignment on the figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(1)

21st May 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 3

16:25 Musselburgh

Bellarchi

9st 10lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

Her last four wins have come at this track, with two of them (7f/1m) last month; drawn wide when down the field at Chester two weeks ago but she has fared better on that front today; big run on the cards.

4/1

9th

10

(11)

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

14:05 Chester

Bellarchi

9st 0lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

Last four wins at Musselburgh, including two last month, latterly producing a career-best performance to see off ten rivals over 1m on good; runner-up on only Chester visit; a further 4lb rise demands even more but can't rule out in her current mood.

16/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 269903

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Useful handicapper on his day; acts on soft going; below peak form when placed at Hamilton (1m, good) most recently but even current rating gives him a leading chance at these weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

13

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 3

16:47 Thirsk

Empirestateofmind

8st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Multiple wins at 1m and 1m1f (good or softer) include two over C&D; quite favourably treated now and he was a very respectable fourth at Ripon recently, when just behind a subsequent winner; needs a bit more here.

16/1

4th

2

(6)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Ripon

Empirestateofmind

9st 12lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: John & Sean Quinn

Two wins last year (1m/1m1f, good/soft); the last of them came in a seller and he was well beaten on last month's reappearance at Doncaster, but that was the competitive Spring Mile and he may have needed the run; won this in 2022 and he's not discounted off a handy mark.

10/1

Form: -05705 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Successful three times, including at Chester, last season but has lacked consistency and dipped slightly on ratings this term; chance depends on how well he responds to new headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(21)

15th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:45 York

Spirit Genie

9st 9lb

J: George Wood

T: Jennie Candlish

Ended winless 2025 campaign with a placed effort in an above-average seller; starts his 2026 season off 8lb below his last winning mark but chance partly depends on the weather as he's best on ground softer than good.

20/1

4

(12)

2nd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 2

17:10 Nottingham

Spirit Genie

9st 2lb

J: George Wood

T: Jennie Candlish

All five wins have been on good or slower including over C&D; hasn't been at his best this season but there have been some respectable efforts and he didn't get the breaks in a hot seller at Chester (5l third of eighth) 12 days ago; continues to drop down the weights and he could be dangerous back in a handicap.

8/1

7

(2)

20th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

15:05 Chester

Spirit Genie

9st 7lb

J: William Pyle

T: Jennie Candlish

All five wins have been on good or slower ground, but he hasn't been at his best this year and was beaten 7l in a Class 4 handicap here (7f, good) last Friday; down the list.

14/1

Form: 615543

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful handicapper who registered a couple of comfortable wins (7f/1m) in the spring; soft ground provides an excuse for latest effort; one of the stronger contenders at the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(1)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:00 Beverley

Capital Guarantee

9st 4lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: David O’Meara

Three-time 7f/1m winner in 2025; good C&D runner-up in April but beat only one in 1m Thirsk handicap two weeks ago; needs to bounce back.

16/1

12th

10

(10)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 3

16:47 Thirsk

Capital Guarantee

9st 0lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Had excuses for the fizzling out of his season in 2025 but he'd been a ready winner of his sole C&D start, last May, and later won off this mark in August; appreciated the return to good to firm ground when only narrowly failing to get up at Beverley (about 7f) last month; on the premises.

8/1

2nd

6

(5)

23rd Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 96y

Class 4

15:22 Beverley

Capital Guarantee

9st 8lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: David O’Meara

Has failed to show his form in last four appearances but ground softer than good wasn't ideal on seasonal debut latest; 2lb below last winning mark and holds a fighting chance provided he rebounds.

16/1

7/1

Form: 66-893 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft ground; resurgent effort at Ripon (third start for new yard) last time; the 9yo is past his peak but warrants respect on favourable terms back at Chester, being a four-time course winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(2)

4th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:53 Windsor

Revich

9st 5lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Adrian Wintle

All seven wins have been on good or slower ground on turf; last success was in 2023 but he's well treated on old form and made some late gains when sixth of 15 at Nottingham (8.3f, good) last month; wasn't beaten far in that race and he could go well again on this step back up in trip.

15/2

6th

5

(13)

8th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 6

16:07 Nottingham

Revich

9st 7lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Adrian Wintle

All seven wins have been on good or slower ground on turf; last success was in 2023 but he didn't get much luck when fourth at Wolverhampton (7f) last month and he's in the mix on this step back up in trip.

8/1

OUR TIP

10/1

Form: -33234

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Five-time AW scorer; consistent this year and went close at Newbury (7f, good) in June, showing that he has a turf race in him; however, it's unlikely to be this one on difficult terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(4)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Chalk Mountain

9st 5lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Zoe Hawkins

Six AW wins for Stuart Kittow including over C&D in his final run last season; returns for Zoe Hawkins after 238 days off but he's only 3lb higher than last time and has claims if he can pick up where he left off; market should be useful.

6/1

1st

8

(1)

24th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Chalk Mountain

9st 7lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Stuart Kittow

Three of top five RPRs achieved here; shaped better than finishing position suggests at Southwell on Sunday and didn't get the breaks when fourth to Arctic Dawn the time before (C&D); won't really benefit from stall 1 given his style of racing and there isn't loads of pace on paper; wears just a tongue-tie.

12/1

14

(13)

21st Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

15:07 Southwell (AW)

Chalk Mountain

9st 4lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Stuart Kittow

All five wins have come over 7f on the AW, including here, but he has run well over this far; losing run up to 12, but has dropped to a fair mark (1lb higher than when last successful) and could sneak into the frame; visor now given a go.

16/1

16/1

Form: /1/369

Last run: 31 days

W: 8st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Two from two for previous yard; not entirely solid on his AW form since returning from very long absence but bare form of penultimate start (February) gives him a good chance on these terms returned to turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(6)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Al Waqidi

10st 0lb

J: William Carver

T: Jamie Osborne

Won his first two starts when trained by Charlie Appleby; absent for 1,374 days prior to his stable debut in January; little to celebrate this year and opposable despite dropping into Class 6 company.

16/1

6th

1

(6)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Al Waqidi

10st 0lb

J: William Carver

T: Jamie Osborne

Won his first two starts when trained by Charlie Appleby; absent for 1,374 days prior to his stable debut in January; little to celebrate this year and opposable despite dropping into Class 6 company.

16/1

6

(12)

10th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:15 Kempton (AW)

Al Waqidi

9st 11lb

J: Nicola Currie

T: Jamie Osborne

Won his first two starts when trained by Charlie Appleby; absent for 1,374 days prior to his stable debut in January; little to celebrate this summer and opposable despite tumbling down the weights.

25/1

Form: -21063

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Ten AW wins, the most recent in February; has an unconvincing record on turf and can be opposed; modest fifth on hurdles debut last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

13

(1)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 2lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner but he's been out of sorts for new yard since December and was last of eight over C&D last time; mark is tumbling but he has lots to prove and needs a major revival.

66/1

8th

6

(8)

4th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Kempton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 4lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

All 11 wins on the AW, including one over C&D, though his latest success for the Moores was in a Newcastle seller (1m, Tapeta) in October; out of the frame in all four starts for this yard since then and may be best watched despite his declining mark.

12/1

10th

4

(9)

31st Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 7lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

Prolific winner down the years; not fired in three runs for Chelsea Banham this winter; betting likely to guide if a revival is on the cards.

40/1

Form: 378-37

Last run: 49 days

W: 8st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner down the years but this veteran has something to find on 2025 form; comfortably held last time, failing to back up his reappearance effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(1)

3rd Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

16:22 Chester

Little Boy Blue

8st 12lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Bill Turner

Multiple winner down the years but this veteran has something to find on 2025 form; comfortably held last time, failing to back up his reappearance effort.

25/1

7th

5

(9)

15th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 213y

Class 4

17:00 Salisbury

Little Boy Blue

9st 7lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

Multiple winner who goes particularly well at Brighton where he was only 2l away last month (7f, good to soft) on his return from a lengthy break; might be vulnerable to younger limbs but should give his running.

10/1

2

(1)

27th May 2025

Good

0m 6f 210y

Class 4

16:10 Brighton

Little Boy Blue

9st 6lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

Off since September but he's proven when fresh having won at Epsom (7f, good) off 1lb higher on his reappearance last July; has won here four times from nine starts, including this race in 2022 off 3lb higher and he holds sound claims on his return.

11/2

Non-runners

On The River, Look Back Smiling

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £43.60
Straight Forecast £41.75
Trifecta £166.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Empirestateofmind

Telegraph:

Spirit Genie

SPOTLIGHT:

Revich

Daily Record:

Look Back Smiling

The Times:

Cephalus

TOPSPEED:

Abduction

D Express:

Spirit Genie

POSTDATA:

Empirestateofmind

Daily Mirror:

Empirestateofmind

The Star:

Revich