2025-05-08

Chester May Festival Day 2 Tips

Day 2 of Chester’s May meeting takes place on Thursday afternoon with a seven-race card.

The Listed Dee Stakes and the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes take centre stage on the Premier Raceday.

We have selections and analysis for all seven races on Thursday’s card, including a couple of value picks at rewarding odds.

13:30 – Chester - CAA Stellar Handicap

It pays to be on the front end at Chester, particularly over this minimum trip and one that looks capable of going well from a handy draw in stall one is FAIR TAXES.

He’s at his best when allowed to dominate and shaped like he needed his return at Dundalk. He should be firmly in the mix from the inside gate here if he comes on for that effort and there’s a suspicion he’s better than his mark of 80.

Selection: Fair Taxes @ 11/4

14:05 – Chester - British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes

Tom Dascombe has a good record with his juveniles, particularly at this venue and BRING IT ON might be worth chancing in race two.

The Dandy Man colt chased home a nice prospect on his debut at Thirsk a few weeks ago and he ought to have learnt plenty from that experience. Double figure odds underestimate his chance.

Selection: Bring It On @ 14/1

14:35 – Chester - Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes

The Dee Stakes has thrown up a few future stars from Ballydoyle and MOUNT KILIMANJARO could be the next in line to make a splash.

This Derby entry was third behind Field Of Gold in a Newmarket maiden before getting off the mark in a valuable contest at Longchamp and he was subsequently even better when narrowly denied by a stablemate in a Saint-Cloud Group 1. A mile on all-weather was too sharp on his return and expect him to relish this step up in distance.

Selection: Mount Kilimanjaro @ 10/11

15:05 – Chester - Ormonde Stakes

Another race that Aidan O’Brien has a strong record in and ILLINOIS could take some stopping if he’s fully fit on his return to action.

Last year’s St Leger runner-up is the clear form pick after hitting the crossbar in two Group 1s last season before a Group 2 success at the end of the campaign and there will be more to come from this son of Galileo as a four-year-old.

Selection: Illinois @ 6/4

15:40 Chester - Louise Keegan Handicap

SEX ON FIRE took a significant step forward to win at Haydock last time in a competitive contest and a drop back to seven furlongs could help him settle better in the early stages, potentially unlocking further improvement. He can defy a 7lb rise here.

Selection: Sex On Fire @ 6/1

16:10 Chester - Halliwell Jones Handicap

The booking of Ryan Moore on WADACRE GOMEZ is eyecatching and the five-year-old ran a cracker when back to form on the all-weather last time out, shaping like he would relish this step back up in trip.

Selection: Wadacre Gomez @ 16/1