Chester Tips: Gatepost

The bottom four stalls always enjoy an advantage in sprints at Chester and that is where I am focusing my attention in the 3.15.

In stalls 1 & 3, Last Sovereign and Forest Edge have never won above a class 4 handicap and racing in class 2 company today, the competition might be too strong.

Ubetterbegood is an interesting runner in stall 2. He looked a decent horse when winning a 5f handicap at Kempton in November but you question whether he can transfer his form onto turf. He was well beaten on his previous turf start and Argentine imports have a much better record on the all-weather compared to racing on grass.

By process of elimination this leaves Gatepost. Twice a winner over 5f during his juvenile career, it is surprising he never raced at the minimum trip again, until today that is.

Last season he failed to win but a combination of trip and soft ground might have been against him. His best race was when finishing fifth, 3.25 lengths behind Fulbright at Newmarket. It was a hot little handicap, with the four horses finishing in front of him now rated 113-97-108-102.

Gatepost’s handicap mark has gone the other way and this afternoon he races off 90. Perhaps he’s not progressed as expected but he had enough valid excuses last year to think he might still become a 100+ rated sprinter. At 6/1 (Ladbrokes) he looks the best bet.

What A Finish - Ladbrokes
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