5.05pm Chester Tips & Betting Preview 11/05/2017

This is a decent Class 3 handicap worth £9,960 to the winner, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Richard Fahey’s ENERGIA FOX has been off the track for 93-days following a win and she looks to have been aimed at this race. She’s been raised 4lbs for a comfortable success in a lower grade and she still looks well treated on old form and she can win this. Banish needs to improve his form to feature whilst any money for Lord Franklin would be of interest given he finished fourth in this race last year.

1 BANISH – Ran a modest race in defeat to Fidaawy on his latest start at Doncaster. That was his first run off a break and he’s been notched down a pound for that effort which doesn’t look as if it should have a dramatic impact on his performance today. His last victory came off a mark of 85 in first time blinkers and he’s struggled in a higher grade since so he still has it all to do off this mark and in this grade. Ryan Moore is aboard today.

2 KAPSTADT – Dual-code performer who drops back down in trip now returned to the flat today. He was beaten 3 1/2 lengths at Chantilly in February and he’s 8lbs higher than his last start in handicap company which came in June of last year when he hacked up by 6 lengths. He should be fit here following his hurdles outing just under two months ago and should run well although others make slightly more appeal in this.

3 AL DESTOOR – Jennie Candlish’s runner has been off the track for 145-days having last been seen over hurdles at Haydock. His flat form is generally good having won a Nottingham handicap over today’s trip off a mark of 78 last October and a 6lb rise looks fair on what he’s achieved to date. He has placed on Good to Firm before but he may need it slightly softer to show his best form and he’s worth taking on in this.

4 CAPONOVA – Tom Dascombe has begun to hit top stride with 6 winners in the past fortnight, one of which attempts to complete a double here. He’s been raised 8lbs following an easy success at Haydock at the end of April when well-supported and he should follow that up in similar conditions today for a yard that target this meeting. Stall 2 is ideal for him and whilst this will require a career best, he’s clearly improved from 3 to 4.

5 ENERGIA FOX – Another runner in this to arrive off the back of a victory having landed a Class 5 handicap at Newcastle in February. She’s been off the track since and races off a 4lb higher mark which looks fair given the standard of opponent she beat on that last start. This race certainly requires more from her and she’s slightly more exposed than some of her rivals but she’s still well-treated and she’s worthy of her chance in this grade.

6 STORM KING – Beaten a neck at Southwell in early April off a mark of 76 having been sent off the well-supported 2/1 favourite. He’s found his form again having been quite regressive following a long lay-off and this mark still looks stiff enough in this sort of company and he’s worth taking on today. He’s without a victory from 8 attempts at this trip and his trainer has only sent out one winner from 13 starts at Chester and others are preferred.

7 LORD FRANKLIN – Eric Alston’s runner finished fourth in this race last year off a one pound lower mark and he’s been rather consistent since. He won a Class 4 handicap in August off a mark of 79 but he couldn’t follow that up in three big field contests and that’s seen him slip back down the weights to one pound higher than his last winning mark. He’s slightly up against it at the weights in this although market support would be positive.

8 OUTBACK BLUE – Makes his second start of the season today following a heavy 27-length defeat at Windsor last month. The handicapper has left him on the same mark and he races off 3lbs out of the handicap here which obviously makes life much harder although he will be better for that recent run. Cheekpieces are an interesting addition for the first time today for a yard that had a winner here yesterday so the betting should be watched closely.