August 06 / 16.08 Chester

16.08

Good To Soft

Halliwell Jones Handicap

  • Prize money: £12740
  • 0m 7f 127y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Halliwell Jones Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

Form: 4-0350 C

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
10yo who showed spark with good runs in defeat in two big handicaps in May (1m/7f, soft); had excuses when down the field in the International Stakes last Saturday (good ground and badly hampered); Listed winner here in 2021 on sole course visit and firmly in calculations now back on slow ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

(4)

27th Oct 2023

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 2

18:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Safe Voyage

10st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John Quinn

Done most winning round easy, turning courses, so has that in his favour; isn't as consistent now, which is no surprise given his age, but retains most of his ability and is fine on Tapeta; the harder they go the better for him.

8/1

4th

2

(9)

30th Sep 2023

Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 2

16:25 Haydock

Safe Voyage

10st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John Quinn

Veteran now but he ran really well in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m) and the Victoria Cup at Ascot (7f) in the spring and took advantage of a slight drop in grade at Chester (7.5f) last time, underlining how well he goes on soft ground; has an excellent course record and should remain very competitive after a 5lb rise.

11/2

2nd
3 (2)

8/1

Form: 7375-0

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in the Royal Hunt Cup on sole run this season and needs to be an entirely different proposition here, but that was a tough reappearance and he's running off the same mark as when winning at Newmarket last July under William Buick (who has a good record for the yard); not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

13/2

Form: 666521

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Good second at Epsom (7f, good to soft) last month then went one better there (7f, good to firm); there can be optimism he will also be suited by today's course and this in-form contender could play a leading role if handling conditions (hasn't shone on two previous attempts on soft/heavy).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(8)

10th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 5

19:00 Epsom

GDaay

9st 9lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Joseph Parr

His last win was 11 months ago but he's a reliable type who has been placed at Chester (7.6f, good) and Chelmsford (7f, AW) in last two runs; finished behind Finbar's Lad last time but he's 5lb better off with that rival and should go well again back on turf.

11/2

3rd

1

(9)

1st Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

GDaay

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Joseph Parr

Ran respectably at Chester returned to turf last time; he's 0-8 this year but remains favourably treated, being 6lb below last winning mark; three-time C&D scorer.

15/2

1

(5)

13th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 5

16:00 Chester

GDaay

9st 9lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Joseph Parr

On a losing run but he arrives in decent nick, sixth of nine in 7f Chelmsford handicap 50 days ago; one to consider after a break.

10/1

Form: 515-55 CD BF

Last run: 180 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
This is his first run since February but he returns to action with his stable in fine form and he's a two-time course winner (good to soft/good, including C&D); has run well over C&D on soft; possible contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

12

(2)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Master Zoffany

9st 4lb

J: Harry Russell

T: Richard Fahey

midfield towards far side

20/1

6th

8

(9)

13th Sep 2024

Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

17:05 Chester

Master Zoffany

9st 8lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Richard Fahey

Acts on soft; close third on penultimate start, inconsistent otherwise this year; three-time winner at Chester and has possibilities back here, provided he takes well to first-time visor.

16/1

11th

10

(8)

1st Aug 2024

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 3

19:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Master Zoffany

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

7f course winner who had dropped 6lb lower than when successful at Newcastle (7f, Tapeta) last December when beaten less than a length into third of 11 at Ripon (1m, good to soft) 12 days ago; races off the same mark but this trip looks to be right on the limit of his stamina.

10/1

Form: 111271 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won his first three starts for this yard this spring (1m, good to soft/soft) and rediscovered his progressive ways when winning at Beverley (7.4f, heavy) a fortnight ago, beating Rhoscolyn who went one better at Glorious Goodwood; he's up just 3lb for last time and holds solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(8)

11th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:42 Nottingham

On The River

9st 6lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Harriet Bethell

Promising fifth in the Spring Mile on his return and then found only a stablemate too strong at Ripon in April (both 1m, good to soft); not so good at Pontefract last time when faced with good ground; the more rain to fall the better for him.

6/1

7th

5

(6)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

15:23 Pontefract

On The River

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Harriet Bethell

Won last summer's Carlisle Bell off this mark (1m, soft); ran well when fifth in the Spring Mile at Doncaster on his return before finding only his stablemate Milteye too strong at Ripon 13 days ago (1m, good to soft; Walsingham back in third); fully effective over C&D but he appears to have a preference for slower than good now and drying conditions aren't sure to suit.

3/1

2nd

5

(4)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Ripon

On The River

9st 8lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Harriet Bethell

The vast majority of his wins have come on slow ground but the going was good when he was second in this race last year; reappeared with promising fifth of 22 in the Spring Mile at Doncaster and could be in the mix.

3/1

OUR TIP

8/1

Form: 59-400

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-13 since winning on his debut in 2021 but he's run reasonably well in handicaps on two of his three starts for this yard (1m/7f, soft/good to firm), and he drops down in grade here off a reduced mark; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(11)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Great Max

9st 11lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

bumped start, midfield

10/1

11th

3

(2)

29th Aug 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

18:14 Southwell (AW)

Great Max

9st 12lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: David O’Meara

Made a winning debut as a 2yo but beaten on his next 23 starts; revitalised by a drop into Class 5 company though, winning 7f handicaps at Haydock and Doncaster (impressed in a good Topspeed figure); up 7lb for last time but still has some handicapping scope.

7/1

11/2

Form: 18-029 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on both Chester runs this season but one was her reappearance and the other was a tough Listed assignment; in between she went close at Haydock and she was a two-time course winner last year (7f, soft/good to soft); could go well now back in a handicap in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(3)

6th Aug 2023

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 3

16:08 Chester

Ffion

9st 4lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: David Loughnane

Well beaten on both Chester runs this season but one was her reappearance and the other was a tough Listed assignment; in between she went close at Haydock and she was a two-time course winner last year (7f, soft/good to soft); could go well now back in a handicap in first-time cheekpieces.

11/2

9th

7

(9)

15th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 1

16:27 Chester

Ffion

9st 2lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: David Loughnane

taken down early, towards rear

20/1

2nd

3

(1)

27th May 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 37y

Class 3

16:45 Haydock

Ffion

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: David Loughnane

Disappointing on reappearance at Chester a fortnight ago, especially as she has a good record fresh and likes that track and soft ground; however, perhaps she needed the run this time around and she's run really well on all three previous visits to Haydock; not ruled out.

8/1

Non-runners

Liamarty Dreams

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £24.03
Tricast £192.01

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Safe Voyage

The Times:

On The River

POSTDATA:

Liamarty Dreams

Telegraph:

On The River

Daily Mirror:

On The River

Daily Record:

On The River

RP RATINGS:

Safe Voyage

TOPSPEED:

Safe Voyage

D Express:

Safe Voyage

The Sun:

Safe Voyage

The Star:

Safe Voyage