Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Chester May Festival Day 2 Tips

THURSDAY RACING TIPS

Chester 1.30 – Five-furlong handicap

The one I like the look of here is Jer Batt (9/2).

He made a nice return at Musselburgh and should come on from that. He’s a very consistent sprint handicapper and this looks his sort of race.

He was second in a similar race to this two years ago so we know he likes Chester and I think he’s got a good chance of going well again.

Megan’s Tip: Jer Batt WIN

Chester 2.35 – Dee Stakes

Mount Kilimanjaro (2/1 fav) has the experience in here and has already run this season when finishing third at Dundalk.

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore have already been amongst the winners this week and their charge has to go well.

However, I was quite interested in High Stock (9/4) for Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding. He won on his debut at Newmarket when looking green in the early stages of the races, but was tough when needing to battle.

Stepping up in trip looks likely to help him further and he might be the one to beat.

It’s a small field but I don’t think Mirabeau (10/1) is totally out of it either.

He ran well at Epsom when staying on noticeably on similar ground to what he’ll encounter here. I don’t think he’s a bad horse and could surprise a few.

Megan’s Tip: High Stock WIN

Chester 3.05 – Ormonde Stakes

This looks a cracker of a renewal of this race.

Illinois (6/5) is the one I fancy. He’s just a very solid Group Two horse and was only just beaten in the St Leger last year.

He’s yet to have a run this season but that doesn’t bother me too much and I think Chester will suit him well.

Giving weight away makes life harder but he’s the class angle here and is very much the one to beat in my opinion.

Megan’s Tip: Illinois WIN

Chester 3.40 – Seven-furlong handicap

I’ll be backing Sex On Fire (5/1) in this.

With a visor applied at Haydock, he was much more effective and won pretty convincingly. He travels strongly and should like Chester.

He should come on from that run at Haydock and the slight drop back in trip won’t be an issue.

El Burhan (15/8 fav) is obviously interesting on his return for George Boughey.

He’s got a tongue tie for the first time and has been gelded which connections will hope brings about some improvement.

The concern with him might just be that, given he’s had a bit of time off the track, he might be a touch slow out of the gates and he might just get a bit too far back which is always hard at Chester.

Megan’s Tip: Sex On Fire WIN

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation