Chester produced a day full of classic clues as promising Derby and Oaks contenders clashed on the Roodee, with coverage on Sky Sports Racing.
3.05pm Chester – Boodles Chester Vase
Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini heads a seven-strong field for the extended 12-furlong Chester Vase. A son of Frankel, he captured a Group 2 at Leopardstown last September and finished third in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on heavy ground. Aidan O’Brien sends him out to begin his three-year-old campaign, hoping to mirror last season’s Vase–Derby success enjoyed by Ballydoyle’s Lambourn. Jockey Ryan Moore has excellent recent form at Chester, winning 53% of his rides there since 2021.
His opponents include Godolphin’s Del Maro, who was placed four times at two and broke his maiden at Yarmouth last month; Proposition, fitted with first-time cheekpieces for Wayne Lordan; Mr Colonel for Richard and Peter Fahey; Jessica Harrington’s Mr Vettori; and outsider Royal Standard for Andrew Balding.
2.35pm Chester – Weatherbys Cheshire Oaks
A compact field of five go to post over 1m 3½f in the Cheshire Oaks, with John and Thady Gosden’s I’m The One the expected market leader. The Sea The Stars filly impressed when winning her Newbury debut and is a short-priced fancy for Epsom. Aidan O’Brien has two runners, including Amelia Earhart, who finally broke her maiden at Leopardstown in October after several solid placings and is also being considered for the Oaks. O’Brien’s other entry, Sugar Island, closed her juvenile season with a Group 3 success at the Curragh and will have Wayne Lordan aboard.
Ralph Beckett’s A La Prochaine, a 550,000gns yearling, won her only outing at Newbury and teams up with James Doyle. Andrew Balding’s Winged One completes the quintet as the likely outsider.
1.30pm Chester – CAA Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes
The opening contest of the Boodles May Festival is an extended five-furlong sprint featuring eight juveniles. Rebecca Menzies’ Adonius remains unbeaten in two starts and occupies stall one, a draw that has produced several recent winners, though he will give 5lb to his rivals. Hugo Palmer’s Bath debut winner Wait Geordie is in stall three with Oisin Murphy booked. Karl Burke’s Final Appeal, second on debut and a recent Wolverhampton scorer, carries Clifford Lee from stall four. Keep an eye also on Philip Makin’s Hickory Lad and newcomer Black Treasure, partnered by Ollie Sangster.
Best of the rest
Snow Master and Partisan Hero lead a 14-strong line-up for the 2.05pm Join Ladbrokes Bet 5 Get 30 Earl Grosvenor Handicap, with Snow Master having been gelded after a promising start. Fourteen are also declared for the 3.40pm American Holidays Handicap, where Kevin Ryan’s Alaminos looks to build on a close reappearance at Pontefract. The Fahey-trained Arabian Desert, runner-up on his last three starts, looks well placed in the 4.10pm TMT Group Maiden Stakes (Derby entrant Alfaraz is a non-runner). At Newton Abbot, Harry Cobden partners Hercule Du Seuil for JP McManus in the competitive Kauto The King Handicap Chase (1.45pm), which also features Etalon, while Nicky Henderson runs Bold Step in the Racing To School Reaches 25 Years Maiden Hurdle (2.15pm).