August 31 / 17.00 Chester

17.00

Good

Horse PWR Handicap

  • Prize money: £12740
  • 0m 6f 17y
  • Class 3
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
Horse PWR Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £22.20
  • Place: £4.90

Form: 191459

Last run: 70 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Front-runs; all seven wins at 5f and he faded when ninth of 25 in the 6f Wokingham at Royal Ascot when last seen ten weeks ago; this is less competitive but doubts about his stamina remain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(6)

9th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:42 Carlisle

The Bell Conductor

9st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ivan Furtado

Veteran; goes well on soft ground and ran a fine race when second to Trilby (2lb worse off for 0.5l) at Haydock last time (5f, soft; tongue-tie tried); tongue-tie retained and sound each-way chance.

6/1

2nd

4

(2)

21st May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:13 Haydock

The Bell Conductor

9st 1lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ivan Furtado

His mark continues to fall but for good reason and this 9yo arrives with plenty to prove; wears a first-time tongue-tie; visor is removed.

16/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 124900 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
All five British wins have been over this C&D and he has fallen in the weights after finishing down the field in competitive events at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood; stall 11 is hardly ideal but returning to Chester should suit and a revival would not surprise in the slightest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(9)

11th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 1

15:52 Chester

Roman Dragon

9st 7lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Hugo Palmer

Has won in Bahrain but all eight British wins have come at Chester (5f/6f); his last success was in May but he's gone backwards since and was beaten 14l in the Wokingham last time; now returns to Chester but he's drawn out wide and has something to prove back up in trip.

14/1

24th

14

(12)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Roman Dragon

9st 4lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Hugo Palmer

Has won in Bahrain but all eight British wins have come at Chester and he's been soundly beaten in the last two runnings of this race (100-1 each time); has been wearing cheekpieces but visor is now refitted.

100/1

11th

1

(6)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 2

17:55 Epsom

Roman Dragon

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

Has gained all eight domestic wins at Chester, the most recent on penultimate start; Epsom is an unknown and he's on a difficult mark, conceding weight all round to boot.

22/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1-1401 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
3yo with an excellent strike-rate; has a 2-2 record at Chester and notched a personal best when gamely making most from stall 1 over C&D (good) five weeks ago; not so well drawn this time but he's up only 2lb and should put up another bold show.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(6)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:18 Pontefract

Garfield Shadow

9st 13lb

J: James Doyle

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Useful for Richard Fahey, winning five times the latest of which was a 7f handicap in Qatar in November 2024; makes his debut for his new yard (gelded in the meantime) and, like his stablemate The Strikin Viking, whether he is on a favourable mark remains to be seen; the choice of James Doyle, though, so interesting to see what the market says.

4/1

2nd

8

(2)

4th Oct 2024

Heavy

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Garfield Shadow

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

3yo who made it four wins from his six starts when scoring at Chester (6f, good) in July, and he's been a close third the next twice (6f/7f, good); won on debut on good to soft (unraced on softer); he could still have more to offer and may be in the shake-up this afternoon.

11/2

3rd

14

(21)

14th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:10 Leopardstown

Garfield Shadow

9st 2lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Richard Fahey

dwelt start, towards rear, raced in last under 2f out, headway 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, went third towards finish, nearest finish

12/1

Form: 878612 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Another Chester specialist; versatile trip-wise and he won over 5f here before second over 7f (made some of running) four weeks ago; edging back up the weights but should be involved in the shake-up once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(7)

11th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

14:45 Chester

Paws For Thought

9st 3lb

J: David Allan

T: Donald McCain

Six-time course winner who is versatile trip-wise but all of his wins have been on good or slower and last two have been in the mud; on a dangerous mark but he didn't fire in his three runs this season; has often worn cheekpieces but is now blinkered first time; non-runner here (7.35) on Friday.

25/1

5th

2

(5)

25th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 18y

Class 5

12:30 Nottingham

Paws For Thought

9st 11lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Donald McCain

His nine wins have been on good ground or slower, with six of them coming at Chester; caught wide there on his reappearance and was well held in seventh there over 7f 13 days ago; drops back in trip with cheekpieces back on.

10/1

Form: 582680

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Scored three times (1m/1m1f) in Germany; inconsistent form in Britain, best effort this year when going close over 7f on this course (good to soft) in May; swaps cheekpieces for visor after poor run at Glorious Goodwood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

(12)

1st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Thirsk

Way To Dubai

9st 3lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Michael Appleby

Low-key run at Newmarket (6f, good) 12 days ago; return to a longer trip is in his favour but others are more appealing for win purposes.

20/1

11th

12

(10)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:45 Newmarket (July)

Way To Dubai

9st 5lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Michael Appleby

Only 1lb higher than for his Lingfield (1m, AW) in January; up and down since that success and could prove vulnerable back sprinting.

20/1

4th

6

(2)

28th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 5

14:12 Yarmouth

Way To Dubai

9st 4lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Michael Appleby

Has won only once since making his British debut in October 2023; has threatened plenty of times but has been very poor in last two races.

14/1

Form: 2-6039 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury (6f, heavy) as a 2yo but hasn't built on that this year, disappointing when only ninth of 11 in Goodwood handicap last time; needs a subsequent gelding operation to have had a positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

(11)

9th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:25 Ayr

Mister Sketch

10st 0lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Hasn't fulfilled the promise of his 2023 2yo campaign but he was a close third off this mark at Salisbury four weeks ago (6f, heavy) and will be bang there if repeating that form.

5/1

1

(1)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:45 Salisbury

Mister Sketch

9st 11lb

J: Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Won a 2yo novice over C&D in 2023 when with Eve Johnson Houghton; mixed results since and ran very moderately on his return to Britain in a 6f handicap at Ripon.

12/1

11th

1

(8)

4th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Ripon

Mister Sketch

9st 13lb

J: Faleh Bughenaim

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Runaway win in a 2yo novice at Salisbury (6f, good) for Eve Johnson Houghton in 2023; mixed results in eight runs since but he was a front-running third in a conditions race in Qatar (7f) in May; on dangerous mark now back in Britain and he's not ruled out on this return to sprinting.

12/1

OUR TIP

7/1

Form: 7-0008 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Down the field all four starts this year; hard to know if he's in any sort of form, but the handicapper has dropped him a chunk and a poor draw was a possible excuse when he was last of eight in C&D Listed race last time; was previously 2-2 at Chester; impossible to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(1)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

20:00 Down Royal

Flaming Rib

9st 12lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Adrian McGuinness

Seven wins abroad; rated 113 at his peak but nothing since 2023; may come forward from seasonal return at Leopardstown (7f, soft) when fifth of ten, but he remains risky.

16/1

5th

5

(9)

4th Jun 2026

Yielding

0m 7f 20y

18:00 Leopardstown

Flaming Rib

9st 5lb

J: Reese Holohan

T: Adrian McGuinness

Seven wins in Britain; runner-up for Hugo Palmer in 2022 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot; regressive since 2023; improved from a moderate stable debut last September when close fourth in a 7f rated at Dundalk in November; last of ten at the same venue in December; rated 113 at his peak, now down to 79 but remains risky.

8/1

Form: -24289 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Pace-setter who ran well when second of 13 at Ascot (5f, good to firm) in July but has failed to repeat the form twice since; at least as effective at 6f and may bounce back; having first run at Chester today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(8)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Emperor Spirit

9st 5lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Michael Keady

First run for Michael Keady when winning this race 12 months ago off a 3lb higher mark; two good runs on fast ground this year (below par on slower going in the Epsom Dash) and he's likely to make another bold bid.

5/1

2nd

3

(3)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:02 Beverley

Emperor Spirit

9st 11lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Michael Keady

Blows hot and cold but he is on a dangerous mark and his second of 17 at Ascot (5f, good to firm) in May was a fine effort; subsequent run in the Dash at Epsom can be forgiven (ground) and this should be more to his liking; other pace influences on show.

7/1

14th

16

(7)

6th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Emperor Spirit

8st 11lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Michael Keady

Appreciated the return to turf when finishing second of 17 at Ascot five weeks ago; 1lb rise still leaves him on a feasible mark; rarely seen on slower than good.

20/1

5/1

Form: 052330 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Beaten only 3l at York (5.4f, good to firm) ten days ago despite racing on the unfavoured part of the track and ducking right leaving the stalls; probably just as effective over 6f and he has shaped well on his two previous visits to Chester; his jockey rides this course well; might be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(2)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Ripon

Wen Moon

9st 9lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Poorly drawn and well beaten on seasonal reappearance here (6f) in April, but much more competitive when third at Carlisle (5f, good; 9-2) 16 days ago; bypassed an option at Catterick on Saturday (unsuitable ground) in favour of this; rain - three wins on soft - would aid his cause.

7/4

12/1

Form: 3-4417

Last run: 176 days

W: 9st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Began his career for Richard Fahey but has been trained by Doug Watson since, winning a 7f handicap in Dubai in February; not the easiest to weigh up on his return to Britain after six months off, but 6f should be fine and market support would make him of some interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(4)

24th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Mcmanaman

10st 1lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Joe Tickle

Winner over this trip on turf at Meydan in 2021 and 2024; more miss than hit in second British spell and a recent change of scenery/break hasn't helped.

20/1

8th

5

(13)

30th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 17y

Class 3

17:00 Chester

Mcmanaman

9st 9lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

Two-time 7f turf winner at Meydan who is on a competitive mark on 7f/1m AW form from late last year; the drop back in trip may not be an issue and he was returning from a break when down the field on last month's stable debut at Glorious Goodwood, but he may be best watched for now.

40/1

Non-runners

Radio Goo Goo

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £196.50
Straight Forecast £153.63
Tricast £629.22
Trifecta £1231.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Wen Moon

Daily Mail:

Garfield Shadow

Telegraph:

Mister Sketch

NEWMARKET:

Way To Dubai

Daily Mirror:

Garfield Shadow

The Star:

Garfield Shadow

Daily Record:

Garfield Shadow

D Express:

Mister Sketch

The Sun:

Mister Sketch

RP RATINGS:

Wen Moon

TOPSPEED:

Wen Moon

POSTDATA:

Wen Moon

The Times:

Wen Moon

The Guardian:

Wen Moon