Race Day Scene: Chester Turns on the Glamour
There's something about Chester in September that just feels like racing at its very best. The ancient Roodee is dressed up, the crowds are in, and the atmosphere crackles with that unmistakable late-season electricity. Trainers are chasing end-of-campaign targets, jockeys are scrapping for every winner as the season winds down, and punters? Well, punters are absolutely ravenous for a competitive handicap.
That's exactly what the PJ Towey Handicap Stakes (Class 2, GBBPlus) delivers. A £70,000 prize fund, a field of thirteen, and a rating band stretching from 88 to 104 — this is the kind of race where fortunes are made and theories are tested. The 1m 2f 43y trip around Chester's tight, unforgiving circuit will separate the class acts from the hopefuls in a matter of minutes. Buckle up.
Check out the full Chester racecard for the complete Saturday card.
Contender Profiles: The Ones to Watch
Thunder Run (Draw 5, 9-12)
Thunder Run heads the weights at 9-12 and arrives with the most compelling profile in the field. Karl Burke's five-year-old gelding is a proven distance winner — that 1m 2f trip holds no secrets for him — and Clifford Lee takes the ride, a combination that has clicked beautifully throughout the season. Burke is a master at placing his horses in competitive handicaps and squeezing peak performances out of them at exactly the right moment. The big weight is the obvious concern, but at a rating of 104, Thunder Run is here on merit. Draw five sits in a workable mid-pack position on a track where getting a clean run matters enormously. He's the one they all have to beat.
Pathein (Draw 13, 9-4)
Ed Dunlop's three-year-old colt Pathein is the most intriguing runner in the race. A course winner at Chester — and that is worth its weight in gold on this unique circuit — Pathein has clearly been learning his craft all season and could be coming to the boil at just the right time. Robert Havlin takes the mount, a jockey who knows how to ride a waiting race and deliver a challenge at the right moment. The concern? Draw 13. That's the widest stall on a track where the rail is everything on the turn. Havlin will need to use every ounce of his tactical nous to get Pathein into a good position early. If he can, the course form makes this three-year-old a very live contender indeed.
David Of Athens (Draw 11, 9-10)
Hamad Al Jehani's four-year-old David Of Athens carries a rating of 102 and is partnered by Faleh Bughenaim. There's an air of intrigue around this one — Al Jehani's operation has been quietly building momentum and David Of Athens arrives without obvious flags in the form book, which in a race like this can mean one of two things: either he's unexposed and dangerous, or he's here to make up the numbers. The draw at 11 isn't ideal, but the horse is lightly weighted relative to his rivals at the top of the market and that could prove significant if the pace is strong early.
City of Poets (Draw 8, 9-5)
James Tate saddles City of Poets, a four-year-old colt with a clean distance-winning profile and Rossa Ryan booked to ride. Tate is a trainer who loves to target valuable handicaps with well-prepared horses, and City of Poets fits the mould perfectly. Draw 8 is manageable — not ideal, not disastrous — and Ryan is the kind of jockey who will find a way to make it work. At a rating of 97, he's got a few pounds in hand on the top weights and that could be the difference in a driving finish.
Bunyola Bay (Draw 6, 9-2)
Richard Hannon's three-year-old Bunyola Bay is another course winner in the field and that flag simply cannot be ignored at Chester. Sean Levey partners him from draw 6 — a lovely position, right in the heart of the field where he can track the pace and pounce. Hannon knows how to get three-year-olds firing in the autumn and Bunyola Bay, rated 100, looks like he has the ability to go close if the ground isn't too soft for him.
Night Breeze (Draw 1, 9-4)
Ian Williams' six-year-old Night Breeze draws the coveted rail position in stall one. On Chester's tight circuit, the rail draw in a mile-and-a-quarter contest is a genuine weapon, and Billy Loughnane — one of the sharpest young talents in the weighing room — will know exactly how to exploit it. Night Breeze doesn't carry a distance-winner flag, but the conditions could suit and he shouldn't be dismissed on the back of that stall alone.
Going and Draw: Chester's Unique Puzzle
The going is described as Good, Good to Soft in places with a Soil Moisture reading of 40 — a surface that rewards horses with a touch of class and a willing action. It's not testing enough to stop the speedier types, but it will certainly find out any horse that's less than fully committed.
At Chester, the draw is never just a number — it's a tactical statement. The track's tight left-handed circuit and short straight mean that horses drawn wide face an almost impossible task of making up ground. Stall 1 (Night Breeze) and Stall 5 (Thunder Run) are the golden tickets here. Stalls 11, 12, and 13 — David Of Athens, Port of London, and Pathein — will need either a fast early pace to compensate or exceptional jockeyship to overcome the disadvantage. For Pathein in particular, that wide draw is the great unknown hanging over his chance.
Value Picks and Dangers
The value angle of this race points firmly towards City of Poets. Rossa Ryan, a smart draw, a proven distance winner, and a trainer in James Tate who targets these races with intent — that's a combination that should attract each-way interest at a price.
Flying Frontier (Tom Marquand, Draw 3) is another worth noting. The six-year-old colt is a distance winner, carries a manageable weight of 8-12, and gets a favourable low draw. Marquand is one of the classiest riders in the business and knows how to deliver a horse late. At a rating of 90, he's well-treated and could outrun his odds.
The danger lurking in the wider market? Bunyola Bay. Course form at Chester is priceless, and if Hannon has him primed, the three-year-old could steal this from the front or track the pace and pick them off. Don't underestimate him.
Note: Old Harrovian (Draw 2) is a non-runner and will not take part.
Our Selection: Thunder Run to Deliver
Thunder Run is our tip for the PJ Towey Handicap Stakes.
Karl Burke, Clifford Lee, a proven distance winner, a workable draw, and a horse at the peak of his powers — everything lines up. Yes, 9-12 is a big ask in a competitive Class 2 handicap, but Burke doesn't run horses like this without believing they can win. Thunder Run has the class, the course profile fits, and Lee will ride him with supreme confidence. He's our NAP of the day.
Each-way alternative: City of Poets at a bigger price, with Rossa Ryan giving him every chance from draw 8.
Who is the favourite for the PJ Towey Handicap Stakes (Class 2)?
Based on the weights and form profiles declared, Thunder Run heads the market as the most likely favourite. Karl Burke's five-year-old carries top weight of 9-12 but is a proven distance winner and arrives in good form. Pathein and David Of Athens are expected to be prominent in the market too, though the wide draws of both horses add an element of risk.
Is Chester a good track for three-year-olds in September?
Absolutely. Chester's tight, galloping circuit can actually suit three-year-olds well in the autumn, particularly those that have been learning their trade throughout the season. The key is course experience — and both Pathein and Bunyola Bay carry the course-winner flag, suggesting they have already handled the unique demands of the Roodee. Three-year-olds with that kind of form should always be respected at this track.
How much does the draw matter in the PJ Towey Handicap Stakes?
At Chester, the draw matters enormously. The tight left-handed circuit and short finishing straight make low draws — particularly stalls 1 through 6 — a significant advantage over the mile-and-a-quarter trip. Horses drawn in double figures face a genuine challenge and will need either a strong pace to compensate or exceptional jockeyship. In a race this competitive, every yard counts.
