It’s the second day of the Boodles May Festival at Chester and attention focuses on two key middle-distance contests, the Group 3 Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes and the Listed Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes.
3.05 Chester — Ormonde Stakes
A fascinating clash as last year’s Ormonde winner Illinois lines up against stablemate Jan Brueghel. Aidan O’Brien’s Jan Brueghel, the 2024 St Leger winner, arrives off a career highlight when he edged out Calandagan in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom last June. He disappointed when only fourth in the King George on his next outing and returns under Ryan Moore with something to prove; this race is being used as a stepping stone to Epsom so any market moves are worth noting.
Illinois, beaten a neck by Jan Brueghel in the St Leger as a three-year-old, reasserted himself here with a winning return last season and followed up with a close second to Trawlerman in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. A dual Group 2 winner, he remains a top-class performer on his day and represents the main danger to his stablemate.
Also in the mix are Sons And Lovers, who carries a 5lb penalty after taking the Red Sea Turf Handicap, and Karl Burke’s Al Qareem, who looks an each-way player with the benefit of proven fitness.
2.35 Chester — Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes (Listed)
Constitution River heads a field of six and is expected to be popular for O’Brien and Ryan Moore. By Wootton Bassett, he was narrowly beaten on debut by Tattersalls Stakes victor Distant Storm, built on that with a smooth Galway success and then delivered a decisive Group 2 victory at the Curragh. The step up to 10 furlongs should suit and connections are keeping an eye on the French Derby route.
Flushing Meadows, another Wootton Bassett, runs as second string with Wayne Lordan and may improve for the extra trip after a seven-furlong reappearance at Leopardstown. Morshdi carries a penalty for his Listed Feilden Stakes success and, lightly raced for William Haggas and Tom Marquand, looks likely to progress with more racing.
3.40 Chester — Xenon Workplace Handicap
George Boughey brings two strong contenders in McMurray and Moonfall. McMurray improved through the summer, winning at Ffos Las, then a narrow handicap success at Doncaster and a two-runner victory at Yarmouth; he looks one to follow after a 2lb rise. Moonfall, gelded since a disappointing Superlative run, beat a useful rival to take a Newbury novice in June and steps into handicap company with Ryan Moore booked.
Archer Royal may build on his reappearance, while Factual — two wins from three — could be interesting now making his handicap debut.
Best of the rest
Roman Dragon aims for a fourth Chester win in the CAA Stellar Handicap (1.30pm) for Hugo Palmer, who also fields Stratusnine. Seven Questions has attracted early support for Robert Cowell. Paper View and Donegal Rose look likely to be popular in the 2.05pm British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden, and Harvey and Londoner clash in the competitive Halliwell Jones Handicap at 4.10pm.
James Doyle heads to Southwell to partner Wathnan Racing’s Enchant in the 8.30pm Follow @attheraces On X Fillies’ Novice Stakes; the Karl Burke-trained filly won on debut at Pontefract and could follow up.
International note
All eyes at ParisLongchamp at 3.38pm where Erdenali, who impressed with a devastating turn of foot on debut for Francis-Henri Graffard, returns in the Prix des Tertres.