Latest news with #ChesterMayFestival
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chester May Festival 2025: East India Dock wins the Chester Cup
East India Dock (9-4 favourite) grabbed victory in the Ladbrokes Chester Cup on final day of the 2025 Boodles Chester May Festival. James Owen's four-year-old, who had finished third in the JCB Triumph Hurdle over Jumps at the Cheltenham Festival, transferred that form back to the Flat to land the prestigious feature on the Roodee, under Harry Davies. The jockey was winning the race for a second successive season after partnering Zoffee 12 months ago. Last year's winner, the Hugo Palmer-trained Zoffee – from the nearby Manor House Stables of former England and Liverpool FC forward Michael Owen – went to the front initially before Irish raider Leinster (10-3) and Ryan Moore took over with Caballo De Mar (11-2) sat in third. Davies had East India Dock just in behind the leading trio and as the pace increased, he followed Caballo De Mar through when that in-form rival moved to the front after the turn for home. But East India Dock was travelling supremely well and having closed in on his main rival, he moved clear and score by a length from Caballo De Mar. Zoffee ran another fine race and having been second in 2023 and won last year, he came home third a length-and-three-quarters back with Leinster a further three-quarters-of-a-length further adrift in fourth and Who's Glen (9-1) fifth. READ MORE: Chester May Festival 2025 day three: Caballo De Mar can win the Chester Cup READ MORE: Chester May Festival 2025: Lambourn wins the Chester Vase to book Derby ticket Newmarket trainer Owen was winning his first Chester Cup with only his second runner in the race and was delighted to see his owners' plan come to fruition. He said: "He travelled lovely and hit his flat spot like he usually does but he stayed on well. (Owners) Tim and Mr (Bill) Gredley had this plan and it's great that we have pulled it off. There are some big pots on the Flat and he's a lovely dual-purpose horse now. To win the Chester Cup is fantastic, we've hit the crossbar a few times coming here, but it's nice to have a winner here and we've won the big one." Davies, who became the first jockey to win back-to-back runnings of the Chester Cup since Philip Robinson scored twice on Anak Pekan in 2004 and 2005, told Sky Sports Racing: "I'm very lucky to get the rides in this race I have and every time I have ridden in it I don't think I've had a bad ride. He got a good draw which always helps round here and he jumped good, I was able to hold my pitch and then he was gutsy. He stays well and had the perfect profile coming into the race. "He loved that dead ground and while everything else was sort of half struggling, he just cruised on through – what a tough horse and I'm delighted for connections. He's a strong traveller and when horses have run over hurdles they learn how to relax better and in a race like this where you have to really rev them to hold their pitch, if they can then relax and drop the bridle there is nothing better. James has been very supportive of me and the Gredley Family have also been happy for me to ride their horses and I was delighted when I got the ride on this fella." Michael Bell's Let's Dream (33-1) landed a shock victory in the Precision Facades Handicap under Warren Fentiman. The four-year-old held on to score by a head from Auld Toon Loon (18-1) with Rathgar (6-1) a further two-and-three-quarters-of-a-length back in third just holding off Flight Leader (33-1) by a short head.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chester May Festival 2025: The Foxes wins the Huxley Stakes
The Foxes (13-8 favourite) got back to winning ways with victory in the Group Two IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes on final day of the Boodles Chester May Festival. Andrew Balding's five-year-old won the Dante Stakes at York in 2023 before finishing fifth in the Derby at Epsom and runner-up in the Grade One Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park. He didn't quitet gone on from that promising Classic year, although he did win a Listed event over 1m2f at Newcastle in November last year before finishing fourth in the Group One Hong Kong Cup the following month. Having been second to Rebel's Romance in the Amir Trophy at Al Uqda in February back in Britain The Foxes returned to winning ways and could be aimed at either next month's Royal Ascot and/or the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. Under Oisin Murphy, The Foxes was sat in third place on the rail behind the pace set by Bolster. And on the turn for home when Cairo (40-1) challenged the leader, Murphy brought The Foxes to the outside and quickly joined Cairo in the lead. He galloped on well to eventually score by a length-and-three-quarters from Cairo with Liberty Lane (5-1) the same distance back in third. READ MORE: Chester May Festival 2025 day three: Caballo De Mar can win the Chester Cup READ MORE: Chester May Festival 2025: Lambourn wins the Chester Vase to book Derby ticket Paddy Power cut The Foxes to 16-1 from 25-1 for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting, while he is 66-1 with the same firm for the Eclipse. Winning jockey Murphy told Sky Sports Racing: "He was superbly prepared by everyone at home as it wasn't completely smooth sailing from Doha to here and Andrew is going to be delighted with that. He was push button and one of the easiest rides you will have round here. It's all down to the work at home and he wasn't always that easy to ride or have that gate speed, but it has come together over the last few starts and that was a joy to be a part of. "Andrew was happy for me to do whatever and it is important to have big winners for owners King Power Racing, they invest a lot into the sport and it's great to ride for them and have winners for them. Andrew will have a think about what he could run in at Royal Ascot and we also had a Group Two winner the other day in Bellum Justum and they kind of fit in the same category. They are both 10-or 12 furlong horses and one is four and one is five, so Andrew will have a think." The trainer's wife Anna Lisa Balding added: "We're absolutely delighted and you need a lot of luck as you always do round Chester. He had a good draw but we needed a good pilot and Oisin did a brilliant job. The horse has been in brilliant form at home and Maddy, one of our assistants, rides him every day, she loves him and has done a super job with him. He picked up half a million pounds for going to Qatar and finishing second and he's a very bonny horse who loves his job and really deserved that today." Course and distance winner Two Tempting (9-4 favourite) scored again on the Roodee in the opener, the CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap. Jonathan Portman's six-year-old won over course and distance and having been fourth at Newbury last month, he returned to winning ways back at Chester. Two Tempting, under Rob Hornby, jumped well from the plum draw in stall one and sat just off the pace set by Partisan Hero (12-1). After the turn for home, Hornby moved Two Tempting up to challenge the leader and he smoothly went to the front and went on to scored by three-quarters-of-a-length from Partisan Hero with Kindest Nation (33-1) a further three lengths back in third with Cracking Gold (20-1) another half-a-length adrift in fourth. Al Wasl Storm (9-1) led from start to finish to win the Boodles Darley EBF Maiden Stakes and potentially book a trip to next month's Betfred Derby at Epsom. The Owen Burrows-trained three-year-old was landing a first success in three starts, having been second at Lingfield last month. Al Wasl Storm broke out well under David Probert and dictated the extended 1m4f contest. He made all the running and beat Willie Haggas' Orinios, who has been second all the way under Tom Marquand, by a length-and-a-quarter with Ammes a neck back in third. The well-backed 11-10 favourite The Pouncing Lion disappointed and came home last of the six runners.
The Guardian
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Horse racing: Chester's May meeting day two, latest news and more
Good afternoon from the Roodee in Chester – and welcome back to anyone who was following the action yesterday – on day two of Chester's May festival, ahead of the Dee Stakes, the meeting's second Derby trial, and the Group Three Ormonde Stakes for stayers. The Dee has blown occasionally hot but generally cold as a pointer towards the Derby over the course of its 212-year history (though it may well be the only recognised Derby trial that has been won by a future Grand National winner, as Voluptuary, the Dee winner in 1881, ran unplaced at Epsom a few weeks later and landed the Aintree spectacular three years after that). But today's renewal looks stronger than several recent renewals, not least as the recent Wood Ditton Stakes winner, High Stock, is among the runners. The Wood Ditton, over a mile at Newmarket's Craven meeting in mid-April, is restricted to unraced three-year-olds and frequently includes a future top-notcher that, for whatever reason, simply couldn't get to a track as a juvenile. High Stock is bred to get at least a mile-and-a-quarter and today's race is the perfect way to find out if it might be worth supplementing him for the Derby. The Ormonde, meanwhile, is also a fascinating contest which pits Illinois, the runner-up in last year's St Leger, against the impressively versatile Absurde, a former winner of the County Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival who has performed with credit in the last two runnings of the Melbourne Cup. The Dee is due off at 2.35 while the Ormonde is at 3.05, and the card opens at 1.30 with a five-furlong handicap in which, unusually for a track where the draw is all-important in sprints, has a field of a dozen runners with no withdrawals from the higher-numbered stalls. Share
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chester May Festival 2025 day two: Mount Kilimanjaro can win the Dee Stakes
-Credit:MOUNT KILILMANJARO can give Aidan O'Brien a record-breaking 12th victory in the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes (Colts & Geldings) (2.35pm) on day two of the Boodles Chester May Festival. And with success in the Listed contest on the Roodee, the three-year-old may book his ticket to next month's Betfred Derby at Epsom. O'Brien drew level with Barry Hills on 11 victories in the Dee Stakes last year with the victory of Capulet and a similar type Mount Kilimanjaro can progress from his first five starts to triumph and hint at an even better in future. The son of Siyouni out of a Galileo mare has won once in those five starts when landing Arqana Series – Haras de Bouquetot Criterium d'Autome Stakes at ParisLongchamp in October before finishing second to his smart stable-mate Twain in the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud last that month. Both those were over a mile and Mount Kilimanjaro was third over the same distance on his seasonal return at Dundalk in March. He looks ready for a step up in trip and it should bring out the required improvement to enhance his Classic aspirations. Although the Dee Stakes has thrown up some decent performers, not least those trained by O'Brien, no horse has won the extended 1m2f contest on the Roodee and gone on to Derby glory at Epsom since Sir Michael Stoute's Kris Kin in 2003 and Oath four years earlier. READ MORE: Chester May Festival 2025: Lambourn wins the Chester Vase to book Derby ticket READ MORE: Chester May Festival 2025 day one: Lambourn can win the Chester Vase O'Brien stable-mate ILLINOIS can bring up a big-race double in the Group Three Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes (3.05pm) and book a trip to next month's Royal Ascot. The four-year-old son of Galileo won at the Royal meeting last year when taking the Group Two Queen's Vase and was also second to stable-mate Jan Brueghel in St Leger at Doncaster in September. Illinois also scored in the Group Two Prix du Chaudenay over 1m7f on Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp the following month. A powerful traveller, he stays well and this looks an ideal starting point for a campaign at distances from 1m4f to two miles. He can triumph and give O'Brien a record-breaking seventh victory in the extended 1m5f contest before heading to Royal Ascot or even the Coronation Cup at Epsom on Derby weekend. ROSENPUR has been in good form on the all-weather tracks recently and can transfer that back on Turf with victory in the CAA Stellar Handicap (1.30pm). The Jennie Candlish-trained five-year-old has been third, second and then first in his three starts since March, all at Wolverhampton. The prominent racer made all on that latest win at the end of last month and with a good draw in stall two may be able to do something similar despite being out of the handicap in a tougher contest. Course and distance winner Copper Knight is well drawn in stall three and Fair Taxes – from the plum draw in one – rate big dangers to the selection. Trainer Hugo Palmer – from the nearby Manor House Stables of former England and Liverpool FC forward Michael Owen – targets this meeting at the yard's local track and newcomer TRICKY TEL, who is drawn in stall two, may be able to make a winning debut in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (2.05pm). OUR MIGHTY MO can build on his comeback fourth at Musselburgh to go a few places better in the Louise Keegan Handicap (3.40pm). Trained by Liverpool FC fan Karl Burke in North Yorkshire, the three-year-old won two of his nine starts as a juvenile including at Haydock Park last September. Having been gelded over the winter, he had a troublesome passage at Musselburgh and did well to finish fourth behind Thunder Wonder on his return. He should be fit and ready for this and may be able to return to winning ways. David Easterby's AUSTRAIN THEORY can win the Halliwell Jones Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (4.10pm). The six-year-old won over this sort of distance at Pontefract last October, having run well over distances around a mile for much of the campaign. Over the shorter distance he made a pleasing return to action when second, a length behind Classic Encounter, in a handicap at Redcar at the start of last month. With that run under his belt he can go one better and triumph. Charlie Johnston's SPIRIT OF JURA has also been in fine form on the all-weather and can transfer that on her first start back on Turf since her debut to win the Oxford Natural Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (4.45pm). The three-year-old daughter of Masar has won three of her last four starts at Chelmsford City and twice at Southwell. Those last two were over 1m3f and she steps up again slightly in distance to 1m4f. Her sire Masar won the Derby over that distance in 2018, so she should improve again for it and can land a first victory on the grass. Wright Ones CHESTER MAY FESTIVAL 2025 (Day Two) 1.30pm Rosenpur 2.05pm Tricky Tel 2.35pm Mount Kilimanjaro 3.05pm Illinois 3.40pm Our Mighty Mo (NAP) 4.10pm Austrian Theory 4.45pm Spirit Of Jura
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chester May Festival 2025: Minnie Hauk wins the Cheshire Oaks to book Epsom place
-Credit:Minnie Hauk (13-8 favourite) booked her place at Epsom with victory in the Listed Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks on day one of the 2025 Boodles Chester May Festival. Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old daughter of Frankel was making her third career start on the Roodee – a place the Ballydoyle handler likes to send his Epsom hopefuls as there are some similarities on the tight turning track. And she made it two wins from those three starts and is likely to head to Epsom for the Betfred Oaks on June 6. Minnie Hauk was cut to as low as 6-1 for the Fillies' Classic although William Hill were best-priced at 12-1. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Under Ryan Moore, Minnie Hauk travelled reasonably well off the pace set by Queen Of Thieves although she had to kept up to her work by the top jockey. After the turn for home in the extended 1m3f Listed contest, Moore moved Minnie Hauk to the front and as the leader faded the pack tried to close in. But Minnie Hauk stayed on well to score by a length from Andrew Balding's Secret Of Love (7-1) with Caspi Star (14-1) a further length-and-a-quarter back in third. READ MORE: Chester May Festival 2025 day two: Mount Kilimanjaro can win the Dee Stakes READ MORE: Chester May Festival 2025 day one: Lambourn can win the Chester Vase O'Brien was landing a record-extending ninth victory in the Cheshire Oaks and Minnie Hauk remains an improving filly who deserves a crack at the real thing at Epsom next month. None of O'Brien's previous Cheshire Oaks winners have also triumphed at Epsom with the last to do the double being John Gosden's mighty mare Enable in 2017, although the Ballydoyle handler's Forever Together scored in the Classic having been second on the Roodee the following year. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Paul Smith, son of Derrick Smith, part of the owners Coolmore triumvirate with Michael Tabor and John Magnier, said: "I think we'll be heading to Epsom after that, Aidan always thought she'd improve a lot for this run. She's a kind, uncomplicated filly with a great attitude and the step up in trip obviously helped, so we'll be looking at the Oaks I would think." He added: "Ryan was niggling a little on the way round but he said that was just to get her interested. She always responds to the jockey and that was what she did, she just kept finding. Aidan always says how much they learn by coming here, he picks the ones he thinks will come on the most. It's a unique track, they are so close to the crowd and they come on a ton, so he always likes to have them pointed towards here. We don't know if she's number one, we'll see how all the trials go in the next week or so, but she has to be in the mix." Jockey Moore, who was winning the Cheshire Oaks for a record seventh time, told ITV Racing: "I was very impressed with everything she's done there. It was her first run of the year and he only had the two runs late on last year. She was drawn wide, showed good speed to get a position and relaxed. She did everything nice and smoothly, was a bit green at first and I probably got there a bit too early but she showed a very good attitude in the straight. She's an uncomplicated filly with plenty of ability." Ali Shuffle (right), ridden by Sam James, on the way to winning the CAA Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes on day of the 2025 Boodles May Festival at Chester Racecourse on Wednesday, May 7 2025 -Credit:PA Ali Shuffle (5-6 favourite) landed a knockout blow in the opener, the CAA Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes. Karl Burke's two-year-old brought up a hat-trick of victories to potentially book a trip to next month's Royal Ascot. The speedy daughter of A'Ali had won both her starts so far, being prominent and scoring at Redcar and Beverley last month. And with the plum draw in stall one, under Sam James, Ali Shuffle broke well and led from start to finish for a comfortable success. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The unbeaten colt scored by a length from Exclamation (14-1) with Italica (40-1) a head back in third. Liverpool FC fan Burke said: " Redorange, ridden by Rossa Ryan (left), on the way to winning the Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap on day one of the 2025 Boodles May Festival at Chester Racecourse on Wednesday, May 7 2025 -Credit:Nick Potts/PA Redorange (11-10 favourite) won the Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap. Clive Cox's three-year-old was sent off the warm favourite following a fine return to action when third to Queen All Star at Sandown last month. With that run under his belt and from an advantageous draw in stall two Redorange broke well in the five-furlong contest. Sat just off the pace set by Ruby's Profit, under Rossa Ryan, Redorange moved to the outside of the leader after the turn for home before hitting the front. He stayed on well to score by a length from Ruby's Profit with Blinky (12-1) a length-and-three-quarters back in third.
