'He's progressive and goes well at the track' - will the draw prove crucial as familiar faces line up in this competitive handicap?

The draw at Chester usually dominates any pre-race discussion and we haven’t seen a winner of this handicap from a double-figure stall in the past decade. However, that stat needs to be contextualised. 

The last time this race had more than 12 runners was in 2014, meaning the vast majority of runners in the past eight iterations have had single-figure draws. In the 2023 running horses berthed in stalls 11 and ten were second and third. Perhaps we make too much of the draw and high numbers are underbet as a consequence.

Fifteen horses are set to line up on the Roodee and that means we are dealing with a deeper running than is usually the case. The fact the one-drawn Percy’s Lad is a non-runner means everyone shuffles down one and changes the complexion of the race from a pace perspective. He effectively made all to land this in 2022 from a similar draw.

Irish raider Physique (stall seven), a pillar-to-post winner of a 17-runner handicap at the Galway festival when last seen, has a better chance of executing the same tactics now. 

Physique won under Seamie at the Galway festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Carrytheone (five) is never far away in races of this nature and will doubtless attract his supporters, although he lacks the same intriguing profile as Under Siege (three). Runner-up finishes to Economics and Lead Artist earlier in the year make this three-year-old an intriguing handicap debutant.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say:

Michael Bell, trainer of Carrytheone
He ran well off this mark at the Shergar Cup. He's had quite a busy campaign but he looks in very good shape. He's well drawn and Chester will play to his strengths.

Jonathan Portman, trainer of Two Tempting
He didn't get a lot of luck last time and the ground was a bit soft the time before. He's in good nick and if he gets a bit of luck and handles the track he should run well.

Charlie Hills, trainer of Divine Libra
He's been running well this year and he's got some good form round there. The rain they've had will help but his draw in 14 is not ideal.

Harriet Bethell, trainer of Yanifer
I've had this race in mind for him since his last run and he's come out of the really well. He seems to be a progressive six-year-old and he goes well at Chester – the only time he didn't run well there, he came down with colic the next day.

Richard Spencer, trainer of Revich
I'd have preferred a lower draw and he's been disappointing this year but I hope he'll run better at a course where's he won four times.

Alan O'Keeffe, assistant to Spirit Genie's trainer Jennie Candlish
He's been pretty consistent in big handicaps all year and he seems to like Chester. He has a nice draw and any rain will help him.
Reporting by David Carr

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Can Caius Chorister keep Willie Mullins and the Irish challengers at bay or is another staying prize going for export? 

'She has plenty of ability and she's been training well' - all you need to know about the Irish Cambridgeshire 

'She's lovely and she delighted us at Goodwood' - leading Oaks fancy Dreamy out to make it two from two 

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