Boodles May Festival Ladies Day

Dressed up to the nines, over 13,000 racegoers came through the gates for the 2025 Boodles May Festival Ladies Day. The feature races came in the shape of the Dee Stakes and the Ormonde Stakes, with Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore once again grabbing the headlines on an afternoon where the going was Good from start to finish.

Race 1 – CAA Stellar Handicap (Class 2, 4yo+, 5f)

Recording his sixth Roodee victory in the process, Roman Dragon (8/1) ran out a gutsy winner of the opener, holding on by half a length under Oisin Murphy for the Hugo Palmer team. Always up with the pace, Roman Dragon travelled with plenty of zest through the opening quarter mile, latching onto the leading group as they swung for home. Making his run down the outside of Copper Knight (9/1), Roman Dragon quickly appeared on the scene upon entering the final furlong, and after a couple of reminders from Murphy kept him on the straight and narrow, galloped on strongly to see off Rosenpur (12/1) a shade cosily. Equalling the legendary Gabrial The Tiger and Powerallied, Roman Dragon is now the joint winning-most horse on the Roodee!

Race 2 – British Stallions Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (IRE Incentive Race) (Class 2, 2yo, 5 ½f)

Providing a quickfire double for trainer and jockey, Tricky Tel (5/6F) was a taking winner of Race 2, pushed out by 3 ¼ lengths on racecourse debut to secure victory for Oisin Murphy and Hugo Palmer. Pressing the leader Davvy (50/1) from a very early stage, Tricky Tel was keen to keep things moving at the sharp end, travelling enthusiastically as the field made their way towards Castle Bend. Still moving strongly at the head of affairs, Tricky Tel readily took the initiative passing the cutaway rail a furlong from home, booted into the lead and powering clear of his rivals leaving Call Me By My Name (25/1) and Senorita Vega (9/1) to fill the places. Named after his father, Tricky Tel looks to be another smart recruit for winning owner Michael Owen!

Race 3 – Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes (Listed) (Class 1, 3yo, 1m 2 ½f)

Making heavy weather of it but ultimately too good, Mount Kilimanjaro (EvensF) threw his hat into the Derby picture with victory in the Dee Stakes, edging home by a neck for the brilliant Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien team. Given a more patient ride than his winning stablemates the day before, Mount Kilimanjaro sat towards the rear of the field for much of the third race, nudged along to take closer order as Great David (25/1) led them into the final quarter mile. Under strong pressure as the leaders made their way into the home straight, it didn’t look likely for Mount Kilimanjaro with a furlong to go. However, building up a head of steam, the son of Siyouni found more, staying on relentlessly to deny High Stock (11/4) on the line. Another record for Moore and O’Brien, this is the eighth time they have combined to win the Dee Stakes!

Race 4 – Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1, 4yo+, 1m 5 ½f)

Second in last year’s St Leger, Illinois (6/5F) kicked off 2025 with a determined victory in the Ormonde Stakes, the 4-year-old son of Galileo coming home 1 ¼ lengths clear to provide Moore and O’Brien with their fourth winner of the Festival. Racing in second behind two-time Stand Cup winner Al Qareem (7/1), Illinois was an ever-stalking presence throughout the opening mile of the contest, never more than a couple of lengths away as Irish raider Absurde (15/8) settled in third. Nudged along a quarter mile from home, Illinois flew around Castle Bend like a slingshot, poking his nose in front as Al Qareem began to toil. In what turned out to be a race-winning move, Illinois went a couple of lengths clear a furlong out, and despite a late rallying cry from both Al Qareem and Absurde, lasted home well to land the spoils. Now with seven wins apiece in this staying contest, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore are once again breaking records!

Race 5 – Louise Keegan Handicap (Class 2, 3yo, 7 ½f)

Holding on by a neck, El Burhan (5/2F) did just enough to take the fifth race of the day, Jim Crowley timing his run to perfection to land the top prize for trainer George Boughey. Shoved along out of the gates, El Burhan was unable to gain a prominent position in the early stages, having to settle for a midfield spot as Our Mighty Mo (9/1) led the way from Sweet Fantastic (16/1). Swinging away on the bridle around the home turn, it looked as though El Burhan only needed the gaps to appear to go very close. In the clear and provided with a nice gap to the outside of Sweet Fantastic, El Burhan readily took advantage in the final half-furlong, edging to the front and just managing to hold off a rallying God Of War (4/1) in a blanket finish. A great month for the trainer, Boughey’s Believing also won the Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1) last month!

Race 6 – Halliwell Jones Handicap (GBB Plus Race) (Class 3, 4yo+, 1m 2 ½f)

Seeing off a competitive field, the well-backed Paddy The Squire (4/1) recorded his second victory under rules in Race 6, keeping on bravely to score by half a length for Andrew Mullen and Iain Jardine. In touch with the leaders but more towards the middle of the pack, Paddy The Squire settled nicely through the first half of the race, moving well under Andrew Mullen as Fouroneohfever (7/2) aimed to make all and record a third win on the Roodee. Making headway down the outside as the leaders rounded the home turn, Paddy The Squire readily moved into a position to strike coming into the straight, taking over at the furlong marker and running on powerfully to hold off Austrian Theory (8/1) towards the line. Former trainer of 2016 Chester Cup runner-up Nakeeta, Iain Jardine had a career best year on the flat in 2024 with 64 winners!

Race 7 – Oxford Natural Handicap (GBB Plus Race) (Class 4, 3yo, 1m 4 ½f)

A three-year-old on the rise, Lady Vivian (10/11F) produced a tidy performance when taking the final race of the day, making all under Hector Crouch to record a 1-length victory for Ralph Beckett. Jumping out of the stalls boldly, Lady Vivian was in the ascendancy from the very start, holding sway from Patagonia Girl (28/1) for much of the way as Way Of Stars (11/4) hugged the inside rail. Increasing the tempo entering the final couple of furlongs, Lady Vivian was soon away and gone from her rivals, kicking two lengths clear around the home turn. Always doing enough down the home straight, Lady Vivian battled on all the way to the finish, holding off Way Of Stars in second, and providing Hector Crouch with already his 58^th winner of the flat season!

Race report by Adam Perkins