3:12 Chester
The 3:12 at Chester is the first division of this Class 4 handicap over an extended 7f on good to soft ground. A field of nine three-year-olds assembles, with the KTB Fit ratings tightly bunched at the top end and several runners stepping up or down in class. Overall the numbers point to an open-looking heat in which recent course placings and trainer course records will carry plenty of weight.
How the race shapes up
With several prominent runners among the principals and a pace shape that looks on the steady side, the race is likely to be run at no more than a middling gallop early on. Vidmiyr and Cool Molly can track the leaders from their middle draws while Runswick and Ubetterseethis are also capable of taking a handy position. The key question is whether the leaders can quicken sufficiently off a steady pace or whether the race will fall into the hands of one of the hold-up performers coming from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Vidmiyr KTB Selection59/100Vidmiyr is a fair 3-year-old with solid recent form including two placed efforts at today's trip.
- 2Cool Molly58/100Cool Molly is a fair 3-year-old with a solid recent record of 121130 and has already shown she handles this track when finishing third here on her only visit.
- 3Runswick54/100Runswick is a fair 3-year-old who showed clear promise when third on return at this track last month.
- 4Ubetterseethis53/100Ubetterseethis is a modest performer who has won once from two starts at Chester and showed competitive form when placed on good to soft ground.
- 5Crazee Icon53/100Modest performer who has been placed on both starts at this trip and showed his best effort when second over C&D on good to soft last season.
- 6Dartrey52/100Dartrey is a fair 3 year old with a solid recent record of four wins from eight starts though he was well below form when last seen.
- 7Showcasing Star46/100Showcasing Star has shown consistent placed form in three starts this year, finishing second on each occasion including twice at today's trip.
- 8Norman Invasion40/100Fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip in all three starts.
- 9Jackabi35/100Jackabi has shown modest form at best and was well held on reappearance last time.
The contenders
Vidmiyr KTB Fit 59/100
Vidmiyr is a fair three-year-old boasting solid recent form that includes two placed efforts at today's trip. He has the benefit of course experience and is in the care of Jennie Candlish, who posts a 13% strike rate from 89 runs at Chester with an A/E of 1.29. George Wood is another who knows the track, recording a 12% strike rate from 52 rides with an A/E of 1.00. The colt steps up in class today and remains unproven on good to soft ground, though his overall profile suggests he should go well from draw 8.
Cool Molly KTB Fit 58/100
Cool Molly arrives as another fair three-year-old with a recent record of 121130 and has already shown she handles Chester when finishing third here on her only visit. Ollie Sangster's yard fires at a 20% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.17 from 15 runs while Pierre-Louis Jamin holds an 11% record from 83 rides here with an A/E of 0.86. She drops in class and steps up in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance on her one attempt. The filly remains unproven on good to soft ground but her course form gives her every chance from draw 7.
Runswick KTB Fit 54/100
Runswick is a fair three-year-old who showed clear promise when third on return at this track last month. He has already won on good to soft ground from two starts and the yard and jockey both have solid records here, Ed Dunlop at 13% with an A/E of 0.82 from 107 runs and Cieren Fallon at 19% with an A/E of 1.03 from 47 rides. Dropping back from a mile looks a sensible move though he has yet to win at this trip. His placed effort last time suggests he can go well from draw 5.
Ubetterseethis KTB Fit 53/100
Ubetterseethis is a modest performer who has won once from two starts at Chester and showed competitive form when placed on good to soft ground. Craig Lidster holds a 9% strike rate here from 34 runs while Joanna Mason is operating at 16% from 38 rides with an A/E of 1.35. He steps up in trip today having been placed both times at this distance without winning and his recent efforts have been ordinary. The fact he has already won on this track and acted on the ground gives him each-way claims from draw 4.
The rest of the field
Crazee IconKTB Fit 53/100
Crazee Icon is a modest performer who has been placed on both starts at this trip and showed his best effort when second over C&D on good to soft last season. He has not matched that form in three runs this year though and remains winless after eight starts. Andrew Balding has a solid 21% strike rate at Chester with an A/E of 1.09 from 615 runs while Jason Watson is operating at 15%.
DartreyKTB Fit 52/100
Dartrey is a fair three-year-old with a solid recent record of four wins from eight starts though he was well below form when last seen. He has never tackled good to soft ground and is unproven at this trip having failed to trouble the judge on his only attempt. The Ralph Beckett yard posts an 18% strike rate at Chester while Hector Crouch is 12% from his rides here.
Showcasing StarKTB Fit 46/100
Showcasing Star has shown consistent placed form in three starts this year, finishing second on each occasion including twice at today's trip. The fair performer is drawn low at Chester and represents a yard with a solid 14% strike rate here from 100 runs. The 3lb claimer has had too few rides at the track to judge while the colt remains unexposed overall.
Norman InvasionKTB Fit 40/100
Norman Invasion is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip in all three starts. The yard and jockey both have modest records at Chester and the horse remains lightly raced with only three career runs. Trip seems to suit but the going remains an unknown on this surface.
JackabiKTB Fit 35/100
Jackabi has shown modest form at best and was well held on reappearance last time. He steps up in trip today having failed to make the frame in his one previous attempt at this distance. First-time headgear is now applied but the yard's modest strike rate at Chester and the jockey's poor record here offer little encouragement.
KTB verdict
Vidmiyr is the KTB Selection. His solid recent form at the trip, course experience and the strong trainer and jockey course records combine to make him the most appealing contender. Cool Molly is the obvious danger having already placed at Chester and dropping in class, while Runswick's promise on return and proven ability on good to soft ground make him another to consider. Ubetterseethis cannot be entirely dismissed given his Chester success.
KTB Selection Vidmiyr
This is the narrative read of the 3:12 Chester. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Chester racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has already placed at Chester on its only visit?
Cool Molly finished third here on her only visit and Crazee Icon was second over C&D last season.
Who has the best trainer strike rate at Chester among the principals?
Ollie Sangster with a 20% strike rate at Chester from 15 runs.
Which runner is proven on good to soft ground?
Runswick has one win from two starts on good to soft and Ubetterseethis has been placed once from one start on the surface.
What is the highest KTB Fit Score in the race?
Vidmiyr has the top KTB Fit Score of 59/100.
Which horse is wearing first-time headgear?
Jackabi is fitted with first-time headgear.
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