Thursday 5th May 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

Chester May Festival

Welcome to my Day 2 preview for the 2022 Chester May Festival and I’ll be diving straight in again with the 1:30 which is the opener and a Class 2 handicap over five furlongs. This is a really competitive affair, of which I’ve taken an each-way chance on Milita at 8/1 for the team of Paul Midgley and Graham Lee. The yard have a fine record with sprinters over the years and whilst this gelding probably won’t be classed as one of their star performers, he’s still a useful sort. He’s course and distance winner, which can count for a lot around here and it’s likely that he’ll build on his seasonal reapparance that was made at Ripon last month.

It’s the 2:05 next and we stay within handicap company as it’s a Class 2 handicap, this time contested over seven and a half furlongs. Another competitive affair of which I’m siding with Outgate at 7/2 who represents the team of Daniel & Claire Kubler. He progressed nicely last term, winning twice and made a fine reapparance to the track last month at Newmarket where he finished second of fifteen. It’s likely that there is still considerable improvement to come from him and from stall one here he’s certainly one that shouldn’t be underestimated.

We move into listed company at 2:40 as the Dee Stakes takes centre-stagee on the Roodee over a mile and two and a half furlongs. This year’s renewal of the race has attracted six horses with considerable potential and it’s Dubai Poet I like at 5/1 for Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni. He bolted up in a novices’ event last term by over five-lengths and as a result tried his hand in pattern company after, with his most notable effort coming in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket where he finished third of ten behind 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus. He made his seasonal reapparance at Newcastle on All-Weather Finals day last month, where he finished second in a listed event behind Checkandchallenge. That’s solid form to say the least and I think that there could be a lot more to come from him and I consider him a big player for this.

The 3:10 is the concluding race I’ll be taking a look at on my Day 2 preview which is the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes that’s contested over a distance of a mile and five and a half furlongs. I think this is all about Albaflora who currently heads the betting at the 2/1 mark for the combination of Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan. She’s an extremley likeable mare who ran some big races in defeat at the top-level last term, most notably on her most recent appearance at Ascot on Champions Day in October where she finished a head second in the Group 1 Fillies & Mares race. She’s also won on her first outing of the season on both occasions since her racing career began and if anywhere near her best she’ll be incredibly tough to beat.