Thursday 8th May 2025
1.30 Chester: CAA Stellar Handicap: We get things underway on day two of the Chester May Festival with the 1.30 on Thursday, which is a Class 2 handicap that’s contested over five furlongs. I like two in this particular affair, the first of which is Jer Batt for David & Nicola Barron, who’s the mount of Callum Rodriguez. He’s run well here before and has plenty of solid form in competitive sprinting handicaps last term. He was a solid third of seven and a length behind the winner on his seasonal reappearance at Musselburgh last month, and he can build on that here off the same mark. I also like Fair Taxes here who represents Ross O’Sullivan and the mount of Saffie Osbourne. He’s a consistent sort and placed at the track in August, he’s got the plum draw here and should come on for a solid effort at Dundalk on seasonal reappearance when finishing fourth of eight, contesting this off the same mark. Jer Batt – 5/1 (Each-Way) & Fair Taxes – 7/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
2.05 Chester: British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes: The second race of the afternoon is the 2.05, and this is a Class 2 maiden that’s ridden over five and a half furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Dubai Time here who represents the team of Hugo Palmer and David Probert. She’s got a nice draw here on his racecourse debut, and she makes some appeal based on her pedigree due to have plenty of sprinting in it. The yard has already had a two-year-old winner this campaign, and the connections enjoy a winner around here, this meeting in particular. She could go well in a muddling affair. Dubai Time – 11/2 (Each-Way)
2.35 Chester: Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes: We move up in grade at 2.35 with the Listed Dee Stakes over a mile and two and a half furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Mount Kilimanjaro here for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. The team won both of the big races here on the opening day, and I fancy them to add another to their tally here. He suffered defeat when going off the 1/4 favourite on his seasonal reappearance, which isn’t ideal, however, he was possibly much in need of the outing on that occasion. He was placed in Group 1 company in France on his final outing of last term, and he should strip considerably fitter here than his Dundalk outing. I think he’ll take a lot of beating. Mount Kilimanjaro – 15/8 (Win) (NAP)
3.05 Chester: Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes: The feature contest on day two of the meeting is the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes that takes place at 3.05 over a mile and five and a half furlongs. I’m with Absurde here, who represents the all-conquering Willie Mullins, who turns his attention to the flat here with William Buick recruited to do the riding. This is a very classy animal across both codes, he was last seen when winning the Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton in comfortable style in April, and he signed off his flat season last term with a very solid fifth-place effort in the Melbourne Cup, just a length and three-quarters behind the winner. He’ll have race fitness on his side here, and he’s proven at the track, having won the Chester Stakes here in August. Absurde – 7/4 (Win) (NB)
3.40 Chester: Louise Keegan Handicap: We move back into handicap company at 3.40 with a Class 2 handicap that’s ridden over a distance of seven and a half furlongs. I’ve sided with God Of War in this particular contest for Tom Clover and Neil Callan. He was only a length and a half behind subsequent Guineas-placed and dual Group 1 winner Shadow Of Light on his racecourse debut, before following up with success of his own in novice company and then not being disgraced when fifth in a Listed contest. The heavy ground probably didn’t suit him on his final start of the campaign in Group 3 company at Newbury, and he can prove a big player now dropped into handicap company here. God Of War – 4/1 (Each-Way)
4.10 Chester: Halliwell Jones Handicap: The penultimate race of the afternoon comes up at 4.10 and this is a Class 3 handicap over a mile and two and a half furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Wadacre Gomez here for Charlie Johnston, who has an eye-catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore. He’s largely campaigned on the all-weather; however, he has run credibly at this track before and posted his best effort for a while last time out when finishing three-quarters of a length third of ten at Wolverhampton behind Mr Baloo. He’ll contest this on the turf off the same mark as that all-weather run, and a couple of pounds lower than his last all-weather success. If he gets some luck in the run, he can go well. Wadacre Gomez – 15/2 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
4.45 Chester: Oxford Natural Handicap: Bringing the curtain down on day two of the May Festival will be the 4.45, and this is Class 4 handicap action over a mile and four and a half furlongs. I’m with Way Of Stars here for the team of Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy. He’s still a maiden after four starts; however, he has shown a decent level of ability in each start and was recently three lengths third of seven on his handicap debut at Southwell last month, in what was his seasonal reappearance. He didn’t get a clear run on that occasion and still ran on to grab third in the closing stages. He should build on that run here and can make his presence felt with a clearer run off a pound higher mark. Way Of Stars – 13/2 (Each-Way)
