Friday 8th May 2026
The first of my four selections on Chester Cup Day on Friday comes within the 2.05, and this is a Class 2 maiden over a mile and four and a half furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of the Ralph Beckett-trained JOULANY here, who’s the mount of Hector Crouch. He’s had three starts to date, and gone close in two of those three outings, including on his most recent outing, which came on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury last month, where he finished third of ten over ten furlongs, and just half of a length behind the eventual winner Maltese Cross. He kept on that day, giving the impression that this further step up in distance should suit him, and he should be bang there on the premises once again.
Next up, it’s the 2.35, and this is the Group 2 Huxley Stakes, which is contested over a mile and two and a half furlongs. Lambourn and Bay City Roller will both be popular at the top of the betting here; however, I’ve tried to take them on with one at a bigger price, and that’s ROYAL RHYME for the team of Karl Burke and Clifford Lee. He’s a smart horse in his own right on his day, winning the Brigadier Gerard Stakes a couple of seasons, with a host of efforts within Group 1 company. He travelled keenly before weakening on his seasonal reappearance in Group 3 company at the Curragh last month, in what was his first start in nearly a year, and you’d expect that he should strip considerably fitter here. He could take a big step forward coming into his second start of the campaign, and should that be the case, he could represent some value in the lineup.
The feature race of the day, and the meeting, takes centre-stage at 3.05 on Friday, and this is the Ladbrokes Chester Cup, a Heritage Handicap over two miles and two and a half furlongs. This is always extremely competitive, and this year’s renewal is no different. I’ve come down on an Irish raider here, and that comes in the form of GALILEO DAME for Joseph O’Brien, who’s acquired the services of Ryan Moore to do the steering. She’s a talented dual-purpose mare who has experienced Chester before, having finished fourth in the Cheshire Oaks here a couple of seasons ago. She’s returned to form as of late, with a wide-margin success over hurdles on her penultimate start, before finishing second on the flat at Navan in March on her most recent start. I also put her up in that most recent outing, and she looked the winner in the closing stages before being run down by Mordor. This race looks as though it’s been a target for her, and I think that she has to be considered as a serious player off just three pounds higher.
Next up for me will be the 4.10, and this is the Chester Plate, a Class 2 handicap which is also contested over the Cup distance of two miles and two and a half furlongs. It may not be as prestigious as its counterpart; however, it’s still as competitive. I’ve come down on the Andrew Balding-trained SHRIMP SHADY, though, who’s the mount of Rob Hornby. He’s been progressive on the all-weather as of late, winning over fourteen furlongs at Wolverhampton on his penultimate outing in March, before finishing second of fourteen behind a highly in-form rival in Arc Zoosve at Lingfield last time out in April. That was his first start over two miles, and there’s every chance that there could be further progression now he’s upped in distance again here. He’ll need to transfer his form to the turf, and he is a quirky sort, but he does have ability, and could still be better than his current mark.
Friday Selections
Chester May Festival (Day 3)
2.05 Chester
JOULANY – (6/5) (Win) (NAP)
2.35 Chester
ROYAL RHYME – (13/2) (Each-Way)
3.05 Chester
GALILEO DAME – (6/1) (Each-Way) (NB) (6 places)
4.10 Chester
SHRIMP SHADY – (8/1) (Each-Way) (5 places)
