Assessing Group race form in top-class handicaps is always a tricky dynamic but, even if ignoring his excellent second in last week's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot, the progressive TIME TO STUDY must have leading claims in Friday's 188bet Chester Cup.
Mark Johnston's stayer won three times last season and proved he had trained on well when just failing to peg back the enterprisingly-ridden Brandon Castle at Musselburgh at the end of March when Euchen Glen (runs in the 5.15 Chester Plate consolation race) was third followed by an 11 length gap back to American Gigolo (previously a good winner at Newcastle) and subsequent Ripon winner Mirsaale.
However, Time To Study appeared to take his form to a new level in the Ascot Group Three chasing home the smart Torcedor with Desert Skyline third, Montaly (last year's Chester Cup winner) fifth and Raheen House sixth.
All those horses were rated much higher than the selection, but the handicapper has reacted with caution by raising Frannie Norton's mount by just 3lb, the amount he is well in here at the weights here.
The only slight question mark I have about Time To Study, who is well enough drawn in stall seven, is whether he will truly see out the two-and-a-quarter miles having been unplaced over the trip in last year's Cesarewitch but the son of Motivator certainly looks like an out and out galloper, and has more than enough ability to win.
In a typically competitive renewal, last year's third Fun Mac is weighted to confirm placings with Who Dares Wins (fourth), Magic Circle (fifth), Watersmeet sixth and Nakeeta (tenth), and is well drawn in stall five.
Nakeeta probably needed the run 12 months ago, and again makes his seasonal reappearance under top weight, but he went close in 2016 when beaten a short head by No Heretic and has since become a smart stayer finishing fifth in the Melbourne Cup last November.
The honest Jukebox Jive has crept in at the bottom of the weights and, after a couple of decent efforts over hurdles during the winter, ran well when fourth at Newbury over this trip last month.
In the colours of Ron Huggins, owner of the legendary Double Trigger, John Egan's mount looks decent value but needs to overcome stall 14.
Earlier, I will take a chance on the mercurial NOT SO SLEEPY returning to form in the Boodles Diamond Handicap.
Hughie Morrison's six-year-old is not especially consistent and has been an intermittent racer in the last couple of seasons, but won the Dee Stakes over this course and distance in 2015 and would have definite claims on his victory at Epsom last June (beating some good handicappers) off this same mark.
Not So Sleepy is probably better on turf than the all-weather and his latest run in the Lincoln can be written off as he raced alone on the stands rail and had no chance.
Posted at 1510 BST on 10/05/18.
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