4.10 Chester – Chester Plate Handicap Preview
This is a deep staying handicap, but the HRB TimeWise Master ratings give a clear starting point. Call My Bluff is ranked 1, just ahead of St Faz, with Kate O’Riley third. Historically, that top-two bias matters, so the winner search should be centred there.
Call My Bluff tops HRB and is a proven Chester stayer, but Timeform raise a fair concern that his recent Newbury win may have come under ideal circumstances. Off a penalty, in a bigger field, he may not get the same set-up, though the Comment Shaper “strong late finisher” note keeps him dangerous.
St Faz appeals more. He is HRB rank 2, arrives thriving with four wins from five for Adrian Keatley, and Timeform note he was suited by a stamina test at Musselburgh. That is important because the Comment Shaper predicts a strong pace and high collapse risk, which should favour something that stays and finishes. His tracked-leaders style could be ideal: close enough to use Chester’s tactical demands, but not forced into the early burn-up.
Shrimp Shady is Timeform’s pick and is progressive, but HRB has her only 12th, which is a major negative under the TimeWise Master framework. She is respected, not selected.
Of the others, Gibside won this last year and has clearly been prepped for a repeat, while Kate O’Riley is interesting if improving for the trip, but she still has stamina to prove.
Self-critique: the risk with St Faz is that this is a stronger race under a penalty, and Chester can punish anything caught wide or ridden cold. However, he combines current form, stamina, HRB rank 2 strength and a race shape that should suit.
Selection: St Faz
Saver: Call My Bluff
Confidence: Medium