It’s day two of the Boodles May Festival, with a whole host of superstars lining up for the Ormonde and Dee Stakes contests.
3.05 Chester – Last year’s hero Illinois faces Jan Brueghel
Last year’s winner Illinois takes on stablemate Jan Brueghel in a stellar renewal of this Group 3 Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien’s 2024 St Leger winner Jan Brueghel took the notable scalp of Calandagan, having outbattled that rival in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom last June. He failed to confirm the form when only fourth in the King George next time and returns with a bit to prove under Ryan Moore. This is viewed as a prep for Epsom again and he should be monitored in the market.
Illinois, a neck second behind Jan Breughel in the aforementioned St Leger as a three-year-old, made a successful return in this race last season before chasing home Trawlerman in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. A dual Group 2 scorer, he is a high-class horse on his day and rates the main danger to his stablemate.
Red Sea Turf Handicap victor Sons And Lovers carries a 5lb penalty, while Karl Burke’s Al Qareem has each-way chances given he has the fitness edge on his side.
2.35 Chester – Classy Constitution River fancied for O’Brien
Constitution River headlines a field of six for the Listed Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes at 2.35pm.
Aidan O’Brien has claimed this prize in seven of the last eight years and this son of Wootton Bassett will be popular under Ryan Moore. A narrow second on debut to Tattersalls Stakes winner Distant Storm on debut, he stepped forward to win comfortably at Galway, but it was his Group 2 success at Curragh that marked him down as a potential top-notcher. A decisive winner on that occasion, the step up to 10 furlongs is expected to suit and he may be one for the French Derby.
Constitution River (left) represents Aidan O’Brien
Second-string Flushing Meadows cannot be dismissed under Wayne Lordan. Another son of Wootton Bassett, he was beaten over seven furlongs on his return at Leopardstown and may do better over this extra distance.
Morshdi has a penalty for his Listed Feilden Stakes victory on reappearance at Newmarket and warrants plenty of respect for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. The form has suffered a knock but this lightly raced type ought to progress with racing.
3.40 Chester – Boughey pair McMurray and Moonfall headline
George Boughey holds the aces as he saddles Moonfall and McMurray in a competitive edition of this Xenon Workplace Handicap.
McMurray got off the mark at the third attempt in a Ffos Las maiden in August and has gone from strength to strength since. Stepped up to a mile, he narrowly scored on handicap debut at Doncaster before completing the hat-trick in a two-runner race at Yarmouth. Up another 2lbs, he has a fair draw in stall five and looks like one to follow this summer.
Stablemate Moonfall has undergone a gelding operation since disappointing in the Superlative but beat a useful yardstick when landing a Newbury novice in June and Ryan Moore is a notable booking on this handicap debut.
Of the others, Archer Royal may leave his reappearance behind him, while Factual has won two of his three starts and remains capable of better on this first start in a handicap.
Best of the rest
Roman Dragon boasts three victories around Chester and will be looking to add a fourth when he represents Hugo Palmer in the opening CAA Stellar Handicap at 1.30pm. The Manor House Stables handler also saddles Stratusnine, who chased home Fast Track Harry at Newcastle the last day. Despite showing inconsistencies of late, Seven Questions has been the subject of early market support for Robert Cowell.
Paper View and Donegal Rose are sure to be popular in the market for the 2.05pm British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes before Harvey takes on Londoner in a competitive renewal of the Halliwell Jones Handicap at 4.10pm.
Elsewhere, James Doyle heads to Southwell to ride the Wathnan Racing-owned Enchant in the 8.30pm Follow @attheraces On X Fillies’ Novice Stakes. Karl Burke’s filly made a winning debut at Pontefract recently and could well go in again.
Internationally, all eyes will be on ParisLongchamp at 3.38pm when Erdenali – who showed a breathtaking turn of foot on debut for Francis-Henri Graffard – returns in the Prix Des Tertres.
