CHESTER 15:10 p1t4a

Non Runners: MANDOOB. Race Distance Adjustment: +23 yds

Time: 2m 55.99s Closing Sectional: (2f): 24.95s (104.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 99.4%

A good-quality Ormonde for all Albaflora was clearly some way below her best, the difficult-to-train Hamish recording an effort at least as good as he's produced.

HAMISH hasn't been the easiest to train, this just his eleventh career start and now in his fourth season, but there have been glimpses over the years that he might be a high-class performer when everything comes together and this performance is surely up there with his very best, successfully conceding weight all round after 6 months off; in touch, shaken up over 2f out, stayed on to lead final 1f, well on top finish; he's a possible for the Hardwicke next but that's clearly ground dependant, unlikely to be risked on firmer than good again by all s.

THUNDEROUS (IRE) back in headgear, showed the benefit of a recent run as he returned to his best; made running, ridden from 2f out, headed final 1f, stayed on; this is his sort of level nowadays, still without a win since the Dante almost 2 yrs earlier.

ALOUNAK (FR) ran perfectly respectably after 6 months off, worth noting that the very pick of his efforts last year were achieved in handicaps; mid-field, headway over 2f out, not quicken final 1f.

JOHN LEEPER (IRE) ran well in a first-time hood after 6 months off and maybe there's still hope he can develop into the horse he was threatening to early as a 3-y-o; held up, pushed along over 3f out, headway under pressure approaching final 1f, never nearer.

ALBAFLORA had blown apart a listed race on her reappearance in 2021 but shaped as if needing the run after 7 months off this time round, not before she'd shaped as though retaining all her ability, however; tracked pace, challenged over 2f out, not quicken approaching final 1f (edged a bit left under pressure), weakened.

BELIEVE IN LOVE (IRE) was well held after 6 months off, maybe not just having come to herself yet this year; mid-field, shaken up under 3f out, no response.

INVITE (IRE) had a far from obvious chance at the weights but again didn't help herself by refusing to settle; dropped out, took strong hold, never a threat.

EAST ASIA (IRE) faced another stiff task returned to Britain but there's a doubt as to what sort of form he's in regardless; dropped out, always behind.

ADRIAN (GER) was a smart performer (probably best up to 1½m) when trained in but offered little on first outing since leaving H. Grewe (for €110,000) after 10 months off; prominent, pushed along under 5f out, dropped away under 3f out.