Last Updated on 06/05/2026 by Andy Clark
The second of three days’ ITV Racing for the Chester May Festival sees another six live TV races on the agenda.
Chester’s Roodeye course contributes five races, including the Group Three Ormonde Stakes, while Huntingdon chips in with one race over the sticks.
1:30 Chester – CAA Stellar Handicap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-100) 5f
ROMAN DRAGON’s form figures don’t inspire confidence, but Hugo Palmer’s charge has a good record at this venue and won the corresponding race twelve months ago off this mark so the Heeraat gelding is taken to get back to winning ways.
Both his two wins last term came here, also scoring in Listed company in August; he’s returned this term, however, out of sorts, finishing seventh at Brighton on his reappearance and then beaten only one home latest at Leicester behind Strike Red.
Those runs were both at six furlongs, however, and he drops back to the minimum trip today where he has a good draw towards the inside. Effective also on a range of ground, the handicapper has given him a chance dropping him back to his last winning mark and Oisin Murphy takes the ride so a big run could be in the offing.
1:45 Huntingdon – Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl4 (5yo+ 0-120) 2m4f
Most of these aren’t the most consistent of performers so last-time winner PEP TALKING gets the vote back up in trip.
Billy Aprahamian’s charge is no stranger to success, winning three times last campaign which includes this trip and he went on his return to action at Kempton in March, beaten just over one length into second by Southoftheborder.
The Pether’s Moon gelding went one better at Chepstow next time when dropped back to two miles, running out an easy ten lengths’ winner over Ballybreeze although a 7lbs rise in the weights does demand more.
However, he’s effective over this trip, and the longer distance could help along with the ground, which will hold no fears. He’s also finished third or better on all his starts over fences here, and he’s won here previously so it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see him competitive again despite a career-high mark to contend with now.
2:05 Chester – British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) Cl2 (2yo) 5½f
UNDERCOVER AFFAIR (EW) went with plenty of zest on his debut at Bath last month, racing keenly and only dropping out of things late when beaten around two lengths by Dandyman Dan and eventually crossing the line in fourth.
David Evans’ charge hinted at definite promise in that first outing and with the experience under his belt the Havana Grey gelding could well improve. He’ll need to settle better than he did in that debut, but he has an old head on board in John Egan who could well help him to do that and he proved in that debut that a quick surface held no fears.
His shrewd yard is in form and with improvement expected he could go well here for the places at a big price.
2:35 Chester – Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes (Listed Race) (Colts & Geldings) Cl1 (3yo) 1m2½f
Aidan O’Brien has won the last three renewals of this contest and both his runners have to be feared; but MORSHDI looked a horse on the up when winning the Feilden at Newmarket on his reappearance, and William Haggas’ charge can double up here.
The Dubawi colt looked a potentially smart sort last term, finishing second to Esna on debut and then winning a York Maiden; he returned from six months off to tackle a slightly longer trip at Newmarket last month and despite looking inconvenienced by the dip he held too many guns for Poseidon’s Warrior.
This extra furlong could unlock even more improvement, and he’s proven himself on this ground in the past. While the form of that Newmarket win has taken a knock, he’s unexposed and can successfully give weight away here for his in-form yard.
3:05 Chester – Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m5½f
St Leger winner Jan Breughel could be tough to beat, but a chance is taken with the O’Brien second-string ILLINOIS to successfully defend his crown having won this race twelve months ago.
The Galileo gelding went on to finish runner-up in successive Group One races at Ascot and Goodwood over significantly further before dropping back to around this trip for the Irish St Leger, where he ran no sort of race equipped with cheekpieces for the first time.
Headgear is dispensed with on this reappearance, and he doesn’t have a great deal to find on stablemate Jan Breughel on their St Leger run. Ryan Moore prefers that one, but Wayne Lordan is a more than able deputy and a return to this venue can see him come out on top.
3:40 Chester – Xenon Workplace Handicap Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 7½f
MCMURRAY was progressive last term, winning three times, which included one over this trip, and the Mehmas colt can make a winning reappearance for in-form George Boughey.
Better for his debut run, he finished runner-up at Salisbury before recording victories at Ffos Las, Doncaster and Yarmouth; that saw him beat Flash Of Fire and he’s only 2lb higher for that victory on his return to action.
The form of his earlier Doncaster victory is working out quite well, and while he can race quite keenly, he is certainly one who likely has more to offer. He can win again on his return.
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Brian joined the team a couple of years ago but he has a long background in writing horse racing content and betting tips. Having worked for a number of publications in the past, such as RacingTips, Brian made the move to thatsagoal and is the main content writer across flat and National Hunt racing.