Wednesday 4th May 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

Chester May Festival

A big welcome to my preview for Day 1 of the Chester May Festival and I’ll be diving straight into the action with the opener at 1:30 which is the Lily Agnes Stakes, a conditions race that’s contested over five-furlongs. I think this can go to Star Of Lady M who’s currently a best price of 13/8 for David O’Meara and Daniel Tudhope. She arrives here sporting an unbeaten record of two wins on the bounce with the most recent success coming at Ripon, where she impressively won a novice event by over three-lengths. It’s likely that she has a very bright future ahead of her and from a handy draw here she’s got a big chance of making her presence felt.

Next up we have the 2:05 which is a Class 2 handicap that’s ridden over a distance of five-furlongs. I’ve taken a chance on the Andrew Balding trained Nymphadora here who’s currently trading at the 13/2 mark and is set to be ridden by Jason Watson. She looked a smart prospect last season when taking a listed event at York back in May of last year, but after that her form tailed off to an extent when trying her hand within group company. This assignment represents a significant drop in grade for her though and if returning to the form we saw her in last May I’d consider her as a big player here from the plum draw.

We have the 2:40 up next which is the Cheshire Oaks which is a listed event over a mile and three and a half furlongs, and is seen as a stepping stone to the Epsom equivalent next month. I think this is all about the Irish raider Above The Curve who’s currently a 7/4 chance for the combination of Joseph O’Brien and Shane Crosse. She shed her maiden tag in impressive style last month when winning by just under three-lengths at Leopardown in a race which is working out really well with winners in behind her. If progressing from that effort here it will take seriously good performance to stop her and her current price of a general 11/1 for Epsom will become significantly shorter.

The 3:40 is the final race I’ve looked at on the opening day of the meeting which is a Class 3 handicap that’s contested over six furlongs. In this competitive affair I like the chances of Ever Given at 7/2 for the team of Hugo Palmer and Danny Tudhope. He developed into a very useful sort last season, winning the valuable yearling staks at York before signing off his campaign with a fine fourth placed effort in a Listed race at the same track. He also has a Chester victory on his CV and it’s likely that he’ll be primed for this particular assignment and from stall two a bold showing would be no surprise.