The Boodles May Festival in Chester kicks off on day two with the battle of the returning champions in the Ormonde, plus Classic contenders in the Dee Stakes, all live on Sky Sports Racing.
3.15 Chester – Changing of the guard and Hamish clash in the Group Three feature
Much is often made of the importance of ‘Chester specialists’ in handling the tracks around unique hairpin bends and the second day feature of the Boodles May Festival includes two stars with proven success from last year’s meeting.
defending champion Hamish leads eight riders in Group Three tote.co.uk Bet 5 Get 20 Ormonde Stakes (3.15) in his first start of the year.
The seven-year-old son of William Haggas has been a great server for the yard winning six of his 14 starts and is one of two penalized under Tom Marquand.
The other to lose weight is that of Ralph Beckett. Max Vega. This tough six-year-old narrowly defeated Hamish when he claimed the St Simon Stakes at Newbury and Rob Hornby took over at the plate.
Aidan O’Brien changing of the guardwinner of the Chester Vase last year, he hasn’t been seen since winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and makes his four-year comeback under the stewardship of Ryan Moore.
Others to consider include John and Thady Gosden’s israrWith old harrovian for Andrew Balding’s garden.
Tom Marquand and Hamish speed on the outside to take the Ormonde Stakes last year
2.40 Chester – Classical contenders put to the test on the Dee
Eight also heads to the pole for a cracking makeover of the Boodles Dee Stakes (2.40), where Derby dreams could begin or end.
Sir Michael Stoute has won the race with Kris Kin in the past and looks to have another exciting colt on his hands with Passenger. The son of Ulysses, he impressed greatly when he won on his debut at Newmarket last month and moved up in trip and class with Richard Kingscote.
O’Brien has won this contest nine times and is confident of the Dundalk Maiden winner Saint Anthonywhile O’Brien’s son Donnacha will be waiting Alder he can take the step having won two of his four starts, including at Cork in his comeback in April.
Charlie Appleby’s local dynasty he was successful in three of his four starts as a juvenile, including in the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract in October.
2.05 Chester – Theoryofeverything and Vetiver meet in upper handicap
The Chester meeting also features a number of fascinating and highly competitive handicaps, including a stylish revamp of the Deepbridge Equity Handicap (2.05).
the gods theory of everything landed a Doncaster rookie on his debut before racing an excellent third at Greenham at Newbury and now qualifying down a mark of 94 with James Doyle leading.
Balding’s filly Twilight Son vetiver making her handicap debut and betting on a hat-trick after winning a couple of novice events at Beverley.
Probably not he looked like a horse with good handicaps when he defeated a quality field at Newmarket last month and must challenge a 7lb gain with William Buick.
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Watch all the racing from the Boodles May Festival in Chester, plus the action from Southwell, all live on Sky Sports Racing on Thursday 11th May.
