September 20 / 15.40 Chester

15.40

Soft

Racing Welfare Handicap

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 0m 5f 110y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Racing Welfare Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

100/30 (Won)

Form: 989273 C

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Five-time course winner on good or slower; has been generally disappointing this season but he's on a reduced mark and ran well to finish third here (7.6f, good to soft) last Saturday; has claims if he can build on that and his penultimate win was over 5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

15

(4)

19th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 17y

Class 4

15:46 Chester

Paws For Thought

8st 9lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Donald McCain

Multiple course scorer (also goes well on soft) but yet to fire this season and underwent breathing surgery before coming in only ninth of 12 over 7f here eight days ago; first-time tongue-tie replaces cheekpieces now.

33/1

9th

12

(7)

11th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

15:53 Chester

Paws For Thought

8st 12lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Donald McCain

Prolific course winner, including this race in 2024, and he has dropped a long way in the weights; that is a result of some low-key runs this year and a wind operation since the latest is not enough to tempt.

33/1

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

13/2

Form: 621306

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Recorded her sixth win when making all at Haydock (5f, good) in July but she's not gone on from that in three runs since; ran respectably at Haydock last time but she looks weighted near her best off this mark and could be vulnerable again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

9

(6)

16th Oct 2026

Heavy

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:37 Haydock

Secret Mistral

9st 0lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Down the field over C&D (heavy) last month but returned to form with close second at Chester (5f, heavy) last time; has won here three times and she's not discounted.

14/1

2nd

7

(11)

19th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 5f 15y

Class 4

16:17 Chester

Secret Mistral

9st 6lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Made all to win over C&D off a 4lb lower mark in July (good; well drawn) and good third here next time (good); hasn't done as well since and double-figure draw a negative.

14/1

8th

2

(10)

4th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:47 Haydock

Secret Mistral

9st 13lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Tony Carroll

Course regular whose 16 starts here have yielded three wins and a further six placings; registered two good efforts either side of making all at Chester (5f, good) in July; not so good at Catterick last Wednesday but has won on soft and can't be ruled out.

10/1

4/1

Form: 766084 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Prolific winner who scored three times on slow ground last autumn including in this race; has had his struggles this season but he showed signs of a revival with his late headway over 6f here (fourth of ten) last Friday; looks interesting if he can build on that and his last win was off 11lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(5)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

16:20 Redcar

Count Dorsay

9st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Tim Easterby

Record of 0-12 this term but has frame possibilities on recent form and win possibilities provided his game is raised a touch; still 13lb below last winning mark.

11/2

2

(5)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

16:20 Redcar

Count Dorsay

9st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Tim Easterby

Record of 0-12 this term but has frame possibilities on recent form and win possibilities provided his game is raised a touch; still 13lb below last winning mark.

11/2

16

(11)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

0m 6f 18y

Class 5

14:30 Nottingham

Count Dorsay

9st 5lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Ended 2024 with a pair of soft-ground 6f wins at Catterick, the second of them off 13lb higher; handicapper has held the upper hand this year but conditions will suit and he helps form a strong hand for Tim Easterby.

12/1

4th
3 (7)
Ran Amok

9/1

Form: 0-7917

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
3yo who hit a personal best when scoring at Doncaster (6f, good) on penultimate run, but he never got involved off this revised mark at Windsor 12 days ago; still has low mileage but he's not easy to predict and needs to kick on again after that last run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(3)

11th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

15:53 Chester

Ran Amok

9st 5lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Hugo Palmer

Both wins have come over 6f and only seventh of 11 in one 7f run; down the field at Haydock last week and that was in a race where he was well drawn; not a solid option but a bounce back wouldn't be a great surprise.

8/1

6th

11

(10)

4th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Ran Amok

9st 3lb

J: David Probert

T: Hugo Palmer

A fairly useful 6f winner; underwent breathing surgery before posting good placed efforts in 6f handicaps at Chester and Doncaster in June; not out of things after a break.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 400223

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
In-form 8yo who had a near-miss at Pontefract (5f, good) on his penultimate run and was a fair third there last time; remains well treated on old form and he's respected on this drop back in grade; all wins have come on good/good to firm but he's effective on good to soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(1)

23rd Sep 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:41 Redcar

Ventura Express

9st 11lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Last scored in July 2024 but he was running respectably this year until a lesser effort at Beverley last month; had an excuse that day (anticipated the start and missed the break) and he's on a tempting mark; considered.

9/4

10/1

Form: 527287

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Runner-up three times but he's been well below form in his last two handicaps (6f, good to firm) and record now stands 0-8; others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(4)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 2y

Class 5

18:00 Doncaster

Ay Gee Ell

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

1-21; close fourth at Thirsk (6f, good; from 7lb higher) in April; has lost his way since, failing to beat many in 5f contests at Pontefract, Beverley, and Chester; questions to be answered for the time being.

20/1

9th

10

(5)

11th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 5

14:10 Chester

Ay Gee Ell

9st 6lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Only run to form once in four runs back on turf this summer and that was over 6f; still 1lb higher than for his AW win in December; others appeal more.

14/1

9th

5

(3)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Beverley

Ay Gee Ell

9st 6lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Blitzed his rivals at Southwell in December (5f) when a visor was first used; mostly creditable efforts since until down the field at Pontefract on latest; needs to bounce back from that.

9/1

20/1

Form: -80000 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Won over C&D (good to soft) last July but he's lost his way and has been out of sorts this season; now 17lb lower than for that last win but the veteran has a lot to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(3)

20th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 5f 110y

Class 4

15:40 Chester

Hyperfocus

9st 1lb

J: Harry Russell

T: Tim Easterby

Won over C&D (good to soft) last July but he's lost his way and has been out of sorts this season; now 17lb lower than for that last win but the veteran has a lot to prove.

20/1

115

19th Sep 2025

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Ayr

Hyperfocus

8st 8lb

T: Tim Easterby

11

(1)

5th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:42 Haydock

Hyperfocus

9st 2lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Four-time course winner who has tumbled down the weights and runs here for the first time this season; however, this 11yo has been struggling this year and a major turnaround is required.

25/1

Form: 677060 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner (5f) on slow ground last year but he's struggled this season and has finished ahead of only rival in his last three runs; now 10lb lower than for his last success but he needs a major revival back at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

(11)

16th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:02 Thirsk

Fuji Mountain

9st 3lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Without a victory since 2024 and he arrives well below par; reared and unseated rider at the start in 6f Wolverhampton handicap 15 days ago.

20/1

5

(3)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fuji Mountain

9st 6lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Decent 2yo who proved hard to place last year and has again lacked consistency this spring; the blinkers come off as he makes his AW debut off a career-low mark and it's hard to know what to expect in truth.

14/1

7th

6

(4)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

19:22 Pontefract

Fuji Mountain

9st 4lb

J: Harry Smith

T: Declan Carroll

Won twice at Chester as a 2yo; just missed out over C&D last month (blinkers first time) when finding only Betweenthesticks too strong; ran okay at Beverley next time and he was drawn wide when disappointing back there ten days ago; stable also run Changeofmind.

10/1

Form: -84435

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Some creditable efforts over 6f and 7f this season but he didn't find much when fifth of eight at Ayr (7f, good) last time; that took his losing run to 14 and he's still above his highest winning mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(1)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

0m 5f 212y

Class 4

15:40 Catterick

Keep Warm

9st 3lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Michael & David Easterby

Awarded the Pontefract handicap last month in which Valentine Catcher passed the post first; not so good in either run since, the latest at Doncaster on Saturday, and others appeal more.

12/1

8

(1)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

0m 5f 212y

Class 4

15:40 Catterick

Keep Warm

9st 3lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Michael & David Easterby

Awarded the Pontefract handicap last month in which Valentine Catcher passed the post first; not so good in either run since, the latest at Doncaster on Saturday, and others appeal more.

12/1

7th

13

(9)

25th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

17:00 Doncaster

Keep Warm

9st 5lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

All three wins over 6f at Pontefract on good and good to soft, most recently when awarded a race last month, but he was never involved in a higher grade there since and recent 7f attempts suggest others will have the legs of him late on.

20/1

Non-runners

Star Chorus

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £20.12
Tricast £37.30

Selections

The Times:

Paws For Thought

SPOTLIGHT:

Count d'Orsay

TOPSPEED:

Fuji Mountain

Daily Mirror:

Secret Mistral

RP RATINGS:

Ventura Express

Telegraph:

Fuji Mountain

The Guardian:

Paws For Thought

Daily Mail:

Paws For Thought

The Sun:

Paws For Thought

Daily Record:

Paws For Thought

POSTDATA:

Count d'Orsay

D Express:

Count d'Orsay

The Star:

Count d'Orsay