Chester's track had a few issues, but the meeting resumed after an hour of deliberation.
Moonfall was always going to struggle for a prominent position from a wide stall, but I thought Ryan Moore could have worked his magic to see the horse placed at the very least.
The horse was inconvenienced around the bend, and that cost him the chance of winning and a place. He missed fourth place by a neck, but he ran on strongly, and I think with a clearer run, he could've gone on to win.
Grazeon Shunshine put in one of the worst performances from a selection on the flat that I can remember. For a horse of his age, it's impressive how he was so keen. The horse didn't drop the bit at any stage of the race, and Jason Hart didn't manage to settle him, but I don't think he really tried. The horse pulled far too much and had nothing left to give when pressed up the home straight.
Bumpy Evans 5/2 (1.5pt) – Market Rasen 3.50
In my opinion, this race looks like a good chance for Bumpy Evans. Half of the race consists of pensioners, and the other two horses have questions to answer.
The older horses have every chance of bouncing back to form, as with age, their handicap marks have made them fairly well-treated. However, you'd like to think that an unexposed chaser should be able to put them to bed and have a much better chance of winning, and I believe Bumpy Evans is the one to be on of the younger lot.
Bumper Evans looked like he was going to romp home in the Durham National at Sedgefield earlier last season. He was a well-fancied odds-on favourite, but Conor O'Farrell definitely went too early, and the horse made a mistake close to the finish when he was tired. Nevertheless, he ran a huge race and showed that he is a good horse over staying trips, with three miles likely to be his optimal distance.
Idefix De Ciergues 9/2 (1pt) – Market Rasen 4.20
There were only a few in this race that I liked the look of, and Idefix De Ciergues didn't instantly stand out, but I think he has a fairly solid chance.
My fancy isn't unexposed, but he is in good form, and the performance of last time out was impressive. The Skelton horse could still be dangerous from his new handicap mark, but is the form worth much? Champagne Twist is becoming ridiculously well-handicapped, but he hasn't shown a glimpse of his ability since his run over fences in his first start of the 2025/26 season.
Idefix De Ciergues has gone up in the weights, but Oscar Palmer keeps the ride and removes 7lbs. The jockey has struck up a solid partnership with the horse, and I think he has to be hitting the frame at the very least.
Eben Al Khawaneej 18/1 (0.5pt EW, 2pl) – Chester 2.05
Chester's cards all week have been great, but I do find it hard to get involved. The track is a nightmare for backing winners, and is definitely a bogie track of mine.
I struggled to find a betting angle, apart from Eben Al Khawaneej, who should be a nice price. Owen Burrows is one of the shrewdest trainers in the UK, he rarely wastes his bullets, and Chester is a track he doesn't come to a lot.
Owen won this race last year with the same connections of Eben Al Khawaneej with a horse called Al Wasl Storm. Al Wasl had two starts before Chester, whereas my fancy has only had one. I thought he shaped okay on debut, considering he wasn't fancied in the market (SP 16/1). Owen's only winner in the last five years at this track came in this race last year, so I thought it was an interesting angle that he sends one from the same owner for this race 12 months on.
GambleAware