17:35 Chester

Celebrate National Racehorse Week Handicap Stakes (GBBPlus Race)

2m · Flat · Class 4 · Good To Soft · 9 runners · £7,731 · Saturday, 22 August 2026

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E/W terms3 places at 1/5 odds (9 runners)· the study →

Furlong's verdict

Reading the form…

AI-written, grounded in our data on this race. May be wrong. Verify before staking. Opinion, not advice.

Top rated

Cranachan

No. 8 · score 58.8 · +1.2 clear of next best · best 17/2·9.60

Best value vs consensus

Howth

17/2·9.50 Bet365 · +8% vs fair (consensus 8.77)

One book stands out from the de-overrounded consensus of 28 bookmakers. A price check, not a tip — the market can be wrong about a horse.

Other selections

Head-to-head dashboard →

Each-way58.8/100 rating

Cranachan

9.60Matchbook

Top-half AI rating in the EW price sweet spot. Each-way splits stake: half on the win, half on the place portion.

Pundit corner

Racing Post · third-party

Pundit pick: HowthDiffers from our pick

Howth heads this nine-runner Chester staying contest on a rating two pounds clear of Westerton, and his profile over a mile and a half-plus on going in this range makes him well suited to these conditions at a track that rewards genuine stayers. Westerton is the most obvious threat and cannot be dismissed lightly, while Midnight Rumble and Kuredu King will also be eyecatching if they take their running over the extended trip. On balance, however, Howth looks the horse to be on, and the selection is Howth.

Editorial from Racing Post analysts via the Racing API — not generated by Racing Alpha. Formbook forecast prices are estimates, not market prices.

Why the model rates this top

Cranachan

Hector Crouch · Ralph Beckett · 3yo

Top-rated of 9

score 58.8 · +1.2 clear of next best (57.6)

Scores compare runners within this race only

The Racing Alpha rating combines four signals. Below is the breakdown — components driving this pick first.

Freshness10% weight
85very strong
36d since last run (fresh)
Form20% weight
70strong
Last 6: 6-2-1-4-2
Ratings50% weight
53average
OR 79
Trainer20% weight
50average
Ralph Beckett: 6/30 winners last 14d (20%)

MarketBest price 9.60 (Matchbook) · 4th in the market of 9.

v1.3 rating — a field-relative score, not a win probability; for market-derived value see the Fair column in the runners table. Weights and method on /about. Tips are opinions, not advice.

Pace map

inferred from last 6 runs

Shape: Mixed shape — pace likely to be honest but not lightning.

Front-runners(2)
2St Mawes 9Sea And Sun
Prominent(4)
1Howth 4Westerton 5Midnight Rumble 6Venezuelan
Mid-division(0)—
Hold-up / closers(1)
3Kuredu King
Unknown(2)
7Dino Bellagio 8Cranachan

Bucketed from the opening clause of each past run's comment. Front-runner / prominent / mid / hold-up — the classic race-shape framework. Unknown = no usable comments parsed.

Draw bias — Chester 2m

full course data →

Strong: low (inside) favoured (IV 1.36).

Low (1–3)

IV 1.36

Mid (4–6)

IV 0.80

High (7–9)

IV 0.79

Today: Kuredu King (draw 3) and Midnight Rumble (draw 1) get the bias; Cranachan (draw 7) is in the least-favoured band.

IV = impact value: 1.00 is neutral, above it a stall band wins more often than its share of runners predicts. 77 qualifying races at this course and trip, 3-year window.

Runners · sorted by AI score

Fair price = de-overrounded market consensus · green best price = beats fair

No.	Horse	Form	Wt	OR	RPR	TS	AI	Fair	Best
8	CranachanPick J: Hector Crouch · T: Ralph Beckett · draw 7 · combo 15/87 (17%) 3yo · G · bb	62142	9-03	79	—	—	58.8	11/2·6.45	9.6·9.60 Matchbook · +49% vs fair All 28 books ▾ Matchbook9.6·9.60Smarkets9.4·9.40SmarketsSBK8/1·9.00 Betfair Exchange6.2·6.20 Bet3654/1·5.00 Coral4/1·5.00 Ladbrokes4/1·5.00 Bet Victor4/1·5.00 Betano4/1·5.00 7Bet4/1·5.00 BetTom4/1·5.00 BetWright4/1·5.00 Star Sports4/1·5.00 LiveScore Bet4/1·5.00Virgin Bet4/1·5.00Unibet4/1·5.00 William Hill4/1·5.00 Paddy Power4/1·5.00 BetMGM4/1·5.00 Betfred4/1·5.00 Boyle Sports4/1·5.00 BresBet4/1·5.00 Dragon Bet4/1·5.00 Midnite4/1·5.00 Quinn Bet4/1·5.00 SportingIndex4/1·5.00 Spreadex4/1·5.00Betfair Sportsbook7/2·4.50
4	Westerton J: Darragh Keenan · T: Jennie Candlish · draw 9 · combo 1/7 (14%) 6yo · G · b	50595	9-12	77	—	—	57.6	18/1·19.34	19.5·19.50 Matchbook All 28 books ▾ Matchbook19.5·19.50Smarkets19.5·19.50SmarketsSBK18/1·19.00 Betfair Exchange19·19.00 Paddy Power16/1·17.00 Betfred14/1·15.00 7Bet14/1·15.00 BetWright14/1·15.00 Boyle Sports14/1·15.00 BresBet14/1·15.00 Coral14/1·15.00Betfair Sportsbook14/1·15.00LiveScore Bet14/1·15.00 SportingIndex14/1·15.00 Dragon Bet14/1·15.00 Bet Victor14/1·15.00 BetTom14/1·15.00 Ladbrokes14/1·15.00 Betano14/1·15.00 Midnite14/1·15.00 Quinn Bet14/1·15.00 William Hill14/1·15.00 Spreadex14/1·15.00 Star Sports14/1·15.00Virgin Bet14/1·15.00Bet36512/1·13.00 BetMGM12/1·13.00 Unibet12/1·13.00
2	St Mawes J: Billy Loughnane · T: George Scott · draw 5 · combo 1/5 (20%) 4yo · G · bClass dropOnly pairing	1326	10-01	80	—	—	56.4	10/3·4.19	9/4·3.25 BetTom · -22% vs fair All 28 books ▾ BetTom9/4·3.25 BetWright9/4·3.25 Unibet9/4·3.25 7Bet9/4·3.25 Star Sports9/4·3.25 BetMGM9/4·3.25 Betfred9/4·3.25 Boyle Sports9/4·3.25 BresBet9/4·3.25 Dragon Bet9/4·3.25 LiveScore Bet9/4·3.25 Quinn Bet9/4·3.25 Coral9/4·3.25 SportingIndex9/4·3.25 Spreadex9/4·3.25Virgin Bet9/4·3.25Betfair Sportsbook9/4·3.25Paddy Power9/4·3.25 William Hill9/4·3.25 Ladbrokes9/4·3.25 Midnite9/4·3.25 Bet3659/4·3.25Matchbook3.15·3.15Bet Victor85/40·3.13 Betano85/40·3.13Smarkets3.1·3.10Betfair Exchange3.1·3.10 SmarketsSBK2/1·3.00
9	Sea And Sun J: Callum Shepherd · T: Charlie Johnston · draw 6 · combo 2/13 (15%) 3yo · C · chClass drop	2245	9-02	78	—	—	52.3	4/1·5.16	10/3·4.33 Bet365 · -16% vs fair All 28 books ▾ Bet36510/3·4.33Smarkets4.2·4.207Bet3/1·4.00 BetMGM3/1·4.00 BetTom3/1·4.00 BetWright3/1·4.00 Betfred3/1·4.00 Boyle Sports3/1·4.00 BresBet3/1·4.00 Coral3/1·4.00 Dragon Bet3/1·4.00 Ladbrokes3/1·4.00 Star Sports3/1·4.00 Midnite3/1·4.00 Quinn Bet3/1·4.00 SportingIndex3/1·4.00 Spreadex3/1·4.00 William Hill3/1·4.00Betfair Sportsbook3/1·4.00Paddy Power3/1·4.00Matchbook3.95·3.95Betfair Exchange3.85·3.85 Bet Victor11/4·3.75 Betano11/4·3.75 LiveScore Bet11/4·3.75Virgin Bet11/4·3.75Unibet11/4·3.75 SmarketsSBK11/4·3.75
3	Kuredu King J: Dougie Costello · T: Donald McCain · draw 3 4yo · G · chbOnly pairing	51436	9-13	78	—	—	45.4	20/1·21.92	19.5·19.50 Matchbook · -11% vs fair All 28 books ▾ Matchbook19.5·19.50Midnite18/1·19.00Smarkets17.5·17.50Unibet16/1·17.00 Bet36516/1·17.00 BetMGM16/1·17.00 BetTom16/1·17.00 BetWright16/1·17.00 SmarketsSBK16/1·17.00 7Bet16/1·17.00 Betfred16/1·17.00 Boyle Sports16/1·17.00 BresBet16/1·17.00 Coral16/1·17.00 Dragon Bet16/1·17.00 Ladbrokes16/1·17.00 Quinn Bet16/1·17.00 Star Sports16/1·17.00 SportingIndex16/1·17.00 Spreadex16/1·17.00 William Hill16/1·17.00Betfair Sportsbook16/1·17.00Paddy Power16/1·17.00 Bet Victor16/1·17.00 Betano16/1·17.00 Betfair Exchange16·16.00Virgin Bet14/1·15.00LiveScore Bet14/1·15.00
1	Howth J: Rob Hornby · T: Tom Lacey · draw 4 7yo · G · btClass dropOnly runner	05843	10-02	81	—	—	43.1	8/1·8.77	17/2·9.50 Bet365 · +8% vs fair All 28 books ▾ Bet36517/2·9.50Matchbook8.2·8.20Midnite13/2·7.50 Coral13/2·7.50 William Hill13/2·7.50 Ladbrokes13/2·7.50 BetMGM6/1·7.00 Betfred6/1·7.00 LiveScore Bet6/1·7.00 7Bet6/1·7.00 BetWright6/1·7.00 BresBet6/1·7.00 Dragon Bet6/1·7.00Virgin Bet6/1·7.00Smarkets6.6·6.60BetTom11/2·6.50 Boyle Sports11/2·6.50 Spreadex11/2·6.50 Unibet11/2·6.50 Quinn Bet11/2·6.50Betfair Sportsbook11/2·6.50Paddy Power11/2·6.50 SmarketsSBK11/2·6.50 Bet Victor11/2·6.50 Betano11/2·6.50 SportingIndex11/2·6.50 Star Sports11/2·6.50 Betfair Exchange4.3·4.30
5	Midnight Rumble J: Luke Catton(3) · T: Jake Thomas Coulson · draw 1 5yo · G · bOnly rideOnly runner	524530	9-12	77	—	—	41.2	16/1·16.76	34·34.00 Matchbook · +103% vs fair All 28 books ▾ Matchbook34·34.00Betfair Exchange32·32.00Smarkets28·28.00SmarketsSBK25/1·26.00 Paddy Power14/1·15.00 Bet Victor12/1·13.00 7Bet12/1·13.00 Bet36512/1·13.00 BetMGM12/1·13.00 BetTom12/1·13.00 BetWright12/1·13.00 Betfred12/1·13.00 Boyle Sports12/1·13.00 Star Sports12/1·13.00 BresBet12/1·13.00 Coral12/1·13.00 Dragon Bet12/1·13.00 Ladbrokes12/1·13.00 LiveScore Bet12/1·13.00 Midnite12/1·13.00 Quinn Bet12/1·13.00 SportingIndex12/1·13.00 Spreadex12/1·13.00 Unibet12/1·13.00Virgin Bet12/1·13.00William Hill12/1·13.00Betfair Sportsbook12/1·13.00Betano12/1·13.00
7	Dino Bellagio J: Paul Mulrennan · T: Donald McCain · draw 2 7yo · G · bOnly pairing	18354	9-07	72	—	—	41.1	11/1·12.25	9/1·10.00 Bet365 · -18% vs fair All 28 books ▾ Bet3659/1·10.00 Paddy Power9/1·10.00Matchbook9.6·9.60Smarkets9.6·9.60LiveScore Bet17/2·9.50 Betfred17/2·9.50 Coral17/2·9.50 Ladbrokes17/2·9.50 Midnite17/2·9.50 Star Sports17/2·9.50 SportingIndex17/2·9.50 Spreadex17/2·9.50 William Hill17/2·9.50Betfair Sportsbook17/2·9.50Virgin Bet17/2·9.50SmarketsSBK8/1·9.00 7Bet8/1·9.00 Bet Victor8/1·9.00 BetMGM8/1·9.00 BetTom8/1·9.00 Betano8/1·9.00 Boyle Sports8/1·9.00 Quinn Bet8/1·9.00 BetWright8/1·9.00 BresBet8/1·9.00 Dragon Bet8/1·9.00 Unibet15/2·8.50 Betfair Exchange4.5·4.50
6	Venezuelan J: Jack Nicholls(3) · T: Gary Hanmer · draw 8 4yo · G · bvOnly runner	28448	9-11	76	—	—	40.0	16/1·16.76	38·38.00 Matchbook · +127% vs fair All 28 books ▾ Matchbook38·38.00Smarkets32·32.00SmarketsSBK30/1·31.00 Betfair Exchange18·18.00Betfair Sportsbook14/1·15.00Paddy Power14/1·15.00 7Bet12/1·13.00 Bet36512/1·13.00 BetMGM12/1·13.00 BetTom12/1·13.00 BetWright12/1·13.00 Betfred12/1·13.00 Boyle Sports12/1·13.00 BresBet12/1·13.00 Coral12/1·13.00 Dragon Bet12/1·13.00 Ladbrokes12/1·13.00 LiveScore Bet12/1·13.00 Midnite12/1·13.00 Quinn Bet12/1·13.00 Star Sports12/1·13.00 SportingIndex12/1·13.00 Spreadex12/1·13.00 Unibet12/1·13.00Virgin Bet12/1·13.00William Hill12/1·13.00 Bet Victor12/1·13.00 Betano12/1·13.00

OR = official rating · AI = model score (0–100) · form reads oldest → latest · Fair= the market's own consensus: median price across 28 bookmakers per horse with the 29% overround stripped out. A green best price pays above that consensus — a price check, not a tip: the market can be wrong about a horse, this only tells you when a book stands out from it.

Frequently asked questions

What time is the Celebrate National Racehorse Week Handicap Stakes (GBBPlus Race)?

The Celebrate National Racehorse Week Handicap Stakes (GBBPlus Race) is off at 17:35 on 22 August 2026 at Chester (Great Britain).

What is the field size and distance of the 17:35 Chester?

2m, Class 4, Flat, 9 runners declared.

What is the going for the 17:35 Chester?

Going is reported as Good To Soft on Turf.

What is the Racing Alpha AI top pick for the 17:35 Chester?

The AI top-rated runner is Cranachan (score 58.8, best price 9.60). Methodology: ratings combine OR, RPR, TS, trainer 14-day form, days since last run and going.

Who is the favourite for the 17:35 Chester?

The market favourite is St Mawes at a best price of 3.25. The Racing Alpha AI top pick is a different horse — Cranachan.

Best price shown is the highest decimal price across bookmakers we track. Odds update every few minutes; settle at SP if unavailable. 18+ only · Bet responsibly · BeGambleAware.org