Boodles May Festival Trials Day

A sunny afternoon on the Roodee made for a fantastic Trials Day at Chester Racecourse in May 2024, the opening day of what would be another entertaining Boodles May Festival. The feature races of the day came in the Oaks and Derby trials, namely the Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks (Listed) and the Boodles Chester Vase (Group 3), with ground conditions remaining Good throughout the afternoon.

Race 1 – CAA Stellar Handicap (Class 3, 3yo, 6f)

Presumably priced up on his wide berth in Stall 13, Garfield Shadow (20/1) sprung a surprise in the opening race of the festival, staying on stoutly in the closing stages under David Nolan to extend his winning streak to three for trainer Richard Fahey. Darting across to the inside running rail after breaking smoothly enough, Garfield Shadow raced towards the tail-end of the field in company with Al Shabab Storm (7/2F) as the runners were taken along by the pacesetting Old Chums (7/1) out in front. Approaching the cutaway towards the final furlong, Garfield Shadow still had more than ten rivals in front of him, sticking to the inside rail as Al Shabab Storm made his move widest of all. However, running on strongly under firm handling, Garfield Shadow wrestled the lead from Old Chums 100 yards out, and despite a late lunge from Al Shabab Storm, did enough to hold on by a neck at the line. With this his only Chester ride of the week, David Nolan certainly came up trumps!

Race 2 – CAA Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2, 2yo, 5f)

Back in the groove at his beloved Roodee, Tom Dascombe added a first Lily Agnes victory since 2013 in Race 2 when Seraphim Angel (11/2) blew her rivals away under a stylish Pierre-Louis Jamin ride. Steadily into stride, Seraphim Angel positioned herself in midfield through the opening couple of furlongs, racing behind the appropriately named Lady Lightning (11/2) and market leader Flicka’s Girl (18/5F) who tussled for the early lead on the run towards the final two furlongs of the contest. Switching to the outside upon turning into the straight, Seraphim Angel soon gathered up a head of steam under Pierre-Louis Jamin, rapidly making up ground as the early leaders began to tire. Moving sweetly, Seraphim Angel edged into a narrow lead at the half-furlong pole before eventually extending away in impressive style to score by 1 ½ lengths from Flicka’s Girl in second place. No stranger to winning sprinters, owner Russell Jones also teamed up with Dascombe in 2019 to take the Group 3 Mercury Stakes at Dundalk with smart filly and former Chester winner Dr Simpson!

Race 3 – tote.co.uk Saddle-Up For More Than Racing Handicap (Class 3, 3yo, 5f)

A classic front-running ride around the Roodee bends proved to be the winning ticket for Knicks (11/1) supporters in the third race of the day, the 3-year-old relentless out in front under Joanna Mason to claim the spoils for Michael & David Easterby. Away smartly from Stall 6, Knicks led the field of eight runners at a solid tempo throughout the contest, chased on his outer by treble-seeking Vince L’Amour (13/2) for the most part, with market principals Kings Merchant (5/2F) and Due For Luck (7/2) never too far behind in midfield. Coming around the home turn with a slender lead, Knicks looked to be travelling strongest of all with just over a furlong to race, his nearest pursuers now all under pressure. Gamely battling on when push came to shove, Knicks refused to surrender the lead in the final furlong, a swarm of challengers in behind all failing to supplant the leader before the line, with Vince L’Amour and Due For Luck finishing closest of all, little more than a neck behind. Already halfway to her tally of 20 winners in 2023, Joanna Mason is operating at a 20% strike-rate this year!

Race 4 – Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks (Listed Race) (Class 1, 3yo, 1m 3 ½f)

A winning trainer of the Epsom Oaks in 2008 & 2013, Ralph Beckett looked to have another smart filly to look forward to after Race 4 when Forest Fairy (11/4) showed real guts to mow down her rivals under Rossa Ryan and snatch victory in the shadows of the post. Positioned in third place through the opening mile of the contest, Forest Fairy was mainly kept to the inside rail alongside Irish raider Port Fairy (7/1), the field being led by outsider of the sextet Seaward (17/2) as market leader Galileo Dame (7/4F) brought up the rear. With little change to the running order as the contenders made their way around the turn into the straight, Forest Fairy looked to be a little caught on heels behind the leader, Port Fairy now launching her attack down the outside with just over a furlong to race. However, forcing her way through a gap to make her challenge at the furlong pole, true grit and determination eventually won the day for Forest Fairy, poking her head in front on the line to deny Port Fairy the chance to win Aidan O’Brien yet another Cheshire Oaks victory. With 2023 a career-best season littered with Group winners, Rossa Ryan looks set for another fruitful campaign!

Race 5 – Boodles Chester Vase Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1, 3yo, 1m 4 ½f)

A race marred with tragedy, Hidden Law (9/4) looked to have the world at his feet after his 3-length romp in this year’s running of the Chester Vase, ridden clear by William Buick around the home turn to an impressive victory for trainer Charlie Appleby. However, hopes of going on to Derby glory were soon dashed when the winner sadly suffered a fatal injury not long after crossing the line. We offer our most sincere condolences to all connections involved with what was a very smart horse indeed.

Race 6 – ESL Export Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 3, 3yo, 1m 2 ½f)

Taking a little longer than perhaps expected, the deadly Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien combination struck once again on the Roodee when Gallantly (11/8F) more than lived up to his name in Race 6, kicking 1 ½ lengths clear of his nearest pursuer to record a first victory under rules. Always fairly prominent, Gallantly sat a couple of lengths behind early pacesetter Castle In The Sand (100/30) through the first mile of the penultimate, settling into a nice rhythm in company with Far L’Amore (8/1) and Liam Swagger (12/1) on his outer. Heads turned for home with a couple of furlongs left to negotiate, Gallantly came under pressure upon entering the straight, a big rangy type who still looked to be finding his feet behind Castle In The Sand as the winning post loomed. However, quickly regaining his stride after passing the furlong marker, Gallantly readily powered clear in the closing stages and was soon in the ascendancy under a confident Ryan Moore. Bred by White Birch Farm, owners of Sottsass (2020 Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe winner), Gallantly could be another superstar!

Race 7 – CNG Switch Handicap (Class 3, 4yo+, 7f)

Unhindered by his starting position in Stall 12, the Charlie Hills trained Divine Libra (4/1) produced one of the performances of the day when scything through the pack to record his second victory at the track in Race 7, booted 2 ½ lengths clear to provide William Buick with a double on the day. Racing quite wide having been drawn almost furthest away, Divine Libra looked to have a tough task on his hooves from the outset, racing five or six lengths behind early leaders Oso Rapido (33/1) and G’Daay (17/2), with locally trained He’s A Gentleman (25/1) also ahead of him as the field made their way towards the home turn. As the field concertinaed, the gaps started to fall into place quite nicely for Divine Libra, a clear pathway now visible down the centre of the course as previous course winner Evocative Spark (12/) made late gains from rear division. Not to be denied, Divine Libra soon seized the initiative upon entering the final furlong, asserting in tidy style under the hands and heels of William Buick to round off a fine afternoon’s racing on the Roodee. Often successful when joining forces, Buick and Hills also combined successfully in last season’s Group 3 Coral Charge with Equality!

Race report by Adam Perkins