For a race with £8,000 to the winner, this doesn't look very competitive with a number of less fashionable stables being represented.
Barry Hills has a superb record at Chester and Swilly Ferry will probably be a short price to add to his achievements. A decent third on debut in the Brocklesby this may well be many peoples' idea of their banker of the day. A big run looks imminent.
Bebenine ran well on debut and improved to finish fourth at Ripon last time. This is an attractive filly with a bit of size and certainly enough speed to sit handy in a race of this nature. However, she struggled to win an auction event last time and you would have to consider this must be a more difficult task. It wouldn't be a surprise to see her placed and a length or so in front of Reel Credit Crunch who was hampered when they re-opposed. It doesn't add to encouragement to learn that Evans filly has been entered to run in a claiming stakes race. This pair look auction standard at best.
Swilly Ferry will take some stopping in what may turn out to be a weak race by Chester standards.
A watching race.
Race review: 'This didn't look a good race by Chester standards and with Swilly Ferry regressing from his promising debut it was a very open contest. On form Hills' colt should have won this with a few lengths to spare and by his starting price many punters must have been wondering what happened here. Metal Soldier was one of only a handful of juveniles to be backed and ran on well to win going away at the finish. Quinn's juvenile looks progressive and may have a touch of ability. The Reel Credit Crunch illustrates that this was no more than a modest contest. Evans filly deserve respect for holding a handy rail position and looking for much of this race to have a good a chance of winning as any. She is rather small and has an element of ability although more likely to win at auction level. Bebenine was bumped on leaving the stalls and then ran a little wide for most. She had a very scratchy action and may have been unsuited by the course of perhaps the ground was too fast. I have little doubt that on her best form she is as good as the Reel Credit Crunch and may bounce back in a small auction race. A poor race.'
