Post by Old Timer on Aug 10, 2020 14:15:38 GMT
Chester 19.00 Cl 2 Handicap 129 (94.8) 10.5f gd – 9 Run
Aasheq 7-9-8 (94) Dr 8 (102.5)
’19 record: 1/2/4 ’20 record: 0/0
10/05/19 Cl 2 Hcap (212/96.4) 10.5f sf Chest 9-2 5/1 3/10 0.75 l 3/10 off 96 – 96.5
chased leader, ridden and every chance throughout final furlong, no extra towards finish
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); course (chased leader, ridden and every chance throughout final furlong, no extra towards finish W); down2lbs (OR);
Minus: 394-day break; up 4lbs (wt);
Verdict: ran unplaced in last year’s John Smith’s after Chester and was not seen thereafter; won on his return last year, but dubious he’s in the same form this.
Desert Icon 4-9-13 (103) Dr 9 (102.0)
’19 record: 2/3/7 ’20 record: 1/0/3
18/07/20 Cl 2 Hcap (374/99.8) 10.5f gd York 9-7 8/1 7/22 6.75 l off 105 – 100.4
prominent, pushed along 3f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
Plus: class (W); going (F); distance (W); recent outing (23 days); down 2lns (OR);
Minus: course (?); up 6lbs (wt);
Verdict: won in first-time cheekpieces at Newmarket and didn’t run badly in the John Smith’s at York.
Sky Defender 4-10-0 (104) Dr 4 (98.0)
’19 record: 1/0/4 ’20 record: 3/3/9
28/07/20 Cl 2 Hcap (187/96.3) 10f gd Good 9-6 33/1 2/19 5/0 l off 104 – 98.0
prominent until over 6f out, tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 2f out, no impression final furlong
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); form run lto (13 days);
Minus: course (?); up 8lbs (wt);
Verdict: won well at Epson, but dismal performance in the John Smith’s at York, however, bounced back at Goodwood when getting the better of all but Maydanny with Restorer some 3l plus in arrears; as they meet on the same terms I can’t see the order being reversed.
Data Protection 5-8-9 (85) Dr 1 (95.2)
’19 record: 2/5/11 ’20 record: 1/1/4
25/08/20 Cl 3 Hcap (57/90.0) 10f gd/fm Nwmkt 8-9 13/2 1/6 2.25 l off 81 – 76.2
tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden and ran on
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); form run lto (16 days);
Minus: course (?); up 4lbs (OR); up in class;
Record: back to form at Newmarket after a wind operation, but upped 4lbs for that he’s now got a career best to carry round Chester for the first time in a class higher.
I’m inclined to think that Aasheq will need the run, and thus Desert Icon is taken to beat Sky Defender with Data Protection in 3rd. Mind you, the way I’ve been going, what do I know!
Aasheq 7-9-8 (94) Dr 8 (102.5)
’19 record: 1/2/4 ’20 record: 0/0
10/05/19 Cl 2 Hcap (212/96.4) 10.5f sf Chest 9-2 5/1 3/10 0.75 l 3/10 off 96 – 96.5
chased leader, ridden and every chance throughout final furlong, no extra towards finish
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); course (chased leader, ridden and every chance throughout final furlong, no extra towards finish W); down2lbs (OR);
Minus: 394-day break; up 4lbs (wt);
Verdict: ran unplaced in last year’s John Smith’s after Chester and was not seen thereafter; won on his return last year, but dubious he’s in the same form this.
Desert Icon 4-9-13 (103) Dr 9 (102.0)
’19 record: 2/3/7 ’20 record: 1/0/3
18/07/20 Cl 2 Hcap (374/99.8) 10.5f gd York 9-7 8/1 7/22 6.75 l off 105 – 100.4
prominent, pushed along 3f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
Plus: class (W); going (F); distance (W); recent outing (23 days); down 2lns (OR);
Minus: course (?); up 6lbs (wt);
Verdict: won in first-time cheekpieces at Newmarket and didn’t run badly in the John Smith’s at York.
Sky Defender 4-10-0 (104) Dr 4 (98.0)
’19 record: 1/0/4 ’20 record: 3/3/9
28/07/20 Cl 2 Hcap (187/96.3) 10f gd Good 9-6 33/1 2/19 5/0 l off 104 – 98.0
prominent until over 6f out, tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 2f out, no impression final furlong
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); form run lto (13 days);
Minus: course (?); up 8lbs (wt);
Verdict: won well at Epson, but dismal performance in the John Smith’s at York, however, bounced back at Goodwood when getting the better of all but Maydanny with Restorer some 3l plus in arrears; as they meet on the same terms I can’t see the order being reversed.
Data Protection 5-8-9 (85) Dr 1 (95.2)
’19 record: 2/5/11 ’20 record: 1/1/4
25/08/20 Cl 3 Hcap (57/90.0) 10f gd/fm Nwmkt 8-9 13/2 1/6 2.25 l off 81 – 76.2
tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden and ran on
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); form run lto (16 days);
Minus: course (?); up 4lbs (OR); up in class;
Record: back to form at Newmarket after a wind operation, but upped 4lbs for that he’s now got a career best to carry round Chester for the first time in a class higher.
I’m inclined to think that Aasheq will need the run, and thus Desert Icon is taken to beat Sky Defender with Data Protection in 3rd. Mind you, the way I’ve been going, what do I know!