Jan Brueghel returned from a long layoff to claim the Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes at Chester, reinforcing the dominance of Ryan Moore and the Aidan O’Brien stable at the May Festival. The 2024 St Leger winner had looked set for a big summer after his Coronation Cup success at Epsom last year, but a disappointing run in the King George at Ascot was followed by a spell on the sidelines.
On Thursday at the Roodee, Jan Brueghel was briefly held up on the rail as the tempo increased, and it briefly looked as if Sons And Lovers had the advantage. Once clear, however, the 4/7 favourite quickened smartly under Moore to score by two and a half lengths from Mount Atlas. The performance suggests a return trip to Epsom for the Coolmore-sponsored Coronation Cup is likely. O’Brien, who was not at Chester, said they were pleased with the run after a long break and that Epsom — where the horse enjoyed last year’s Coronation Cup — would be the natural next target, especially with the race now sponsored by Coolmore.
O’Brien’s dominance of the Classic trials continued earlier on the card when Constitution River produced a commanding win in the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes. The contest was run against the backdrop of a delayed card — one race was held up for more than an hour after a track inspection — and the field for the Derby trial was weakened when William Haggas withdrew Morshdi because of the ground.
Unfazed, O’Brien sent out his son of Wootton Bassett, who started 2/9 and won with plenty in hand. Constitution River, a Group Two winner last season, traveled smoothly under Moore and drew clear to beat Generic by seven lengths, while Golden Story found the track’s bends more testing. Moore described the colt as an exciting horse who had recovered from a minor setback and ought to improve for the run; he suggested the horse would be fine over 10 furlongs but could handle further if required. Bookmakers installed Constitution River at 7/1 for Epsom, though O’Brien has also previously mentioned a potential entry for the French equivalent and the colt remains entered for the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot.
The opening race of the second day produced a popular local success as Roman Dragon landed the five-furlong CAA Stellar Handicap. Sent off at 4/1, the Heeraat gelding — ridden by Oisin Murphy — extended an extraordinary Chester record by notching his eighth career victory at the track from 21 starts, edging out stablemate Dubai Bling by a head.
Trainer Hugo Palmer praised the sprinter’s affinity for Chester, noting the horse’s balance and agility and saying straight tracks do not suit him as much as the Roodee’s bends. Roman Dragon has also won at York and even in Bahrain, but Palmer made clear Chester is special for the gelding and that they will aim to return later in the season, including targeting the Queensferry Stakes again.
Overall, the May Festival reinforced O’Brien’s strong grip on the big trial races and saw Moore continue to deliver on top rides, while course specialist Roman Dragon delighted local supporters with another Roodee triumph.