Boodles May Festival Trials Day

A crowd of over six and a half thousand made their way to Chester Racecourse for this year’s Boodles May Festival Trials Day. The feature events came via the Cheshire Oaks and Chester Vase, in which Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore once again continued to impress on a day where the sun shone and ground conditions remained Good throughout.

Race 1 – CAA Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2, 2yo, 5f)

Making full use of her handy draw in Stall 1, Ali Shuffle (5/6F) led from pillar to post in the opening contest of the May Festival, keeping on well by a length to score for Sam James and Karl Burke. Quickly intro stride and blazing the trail through the opening quarter mile, Ali Shuffle looked to hold all the aces as the field headed for the home turn. Challenged at the furlong pole but sticking on resolutely, Ali Shuffle was just simply not for passing down the home straight, picking up well in the closing stages to see off Exclamation (14/1) and Italica (40/1). Successful on the Roodee before, Burke and James also took the 2023 Stand Cup (Listed) with Al Qareem!

Race 2 – Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap (Class 3, 3yo, 5f)

Building on his promising return at Sandown, Redorange (11/10F) justified market support in gritty style to take Race 2, grinding out a 1-length victory under Rossa Ryan for trainer Clive Cox. Smartly away, Redorange hugged the inside rail in third place for much of the contest, stalking early leader Ruby’s Profit (11/2) as the field were taken along at a good clip. Switching to the centre of the track around the home turn, Rossa Ryan manoeuvred Redorange into prime position with a furlong to go, edging into the lead with just a couple of shakes of the reins before sticking on determinedly to score by a slender margin. Connections always to be feared in sprint races, Cox and Al Mohamediya Racing also scored at Royal Ascot in 2020 with Golden Horde!

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

Staying on smartly in the closing stages, Minnie Hauk (13/8F) did just enough to run out a 1-length winner of the Cheshire Oaks, ridden out by Ryan Moore to score for master trainer Aidan O’Brien. Fluctuating between first and second place, Ryan Moore rarely looked comfortable aboard Minnie Hauk through the opening mile, coaxing his mount along as Queen Of Thieves (6/1) headed them up. However, kicking on powerfully around the turn into the straight, Minnie Hauk soon found her second wind under the Ryan Moore drive, hitting the front at the furlong pole and sticking her neck out all the way to the line. A record ninth win in the race for O’Brien, the Ballydoyle maestro also won this with future Irish Oaks winner Savethelastdance in 2023!

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

A quick double for connections, Lambourn (11/8F) toughed out a 1 ½-length victory in the Chester Vase, Ryan Moore delivering his mount to perfection to provide Aidan O’Brien with another winner. Much like his ride in the previous race, Ryan Moore was forced to keep Lambourn up to his work through the first mile of the contest, fighting to maintain a prominent early position as Lazy Griff (25/1) and Convergent (9/2) battled for the lead. Ridden along three furlongs out, Lambourn looked to have a bit to do as the field made their way towards home. However, responding well for pressure, Lambourn stayed on best of all down the centre of the track, surpassing the leaders half a furlong out to secure the victory. Another record for Messrs Moore and O’Brien, this marked the eighth time the pair have combined for victory in this race!

Race 5 – Love Federal Capital Handicap (Class 3, 3yo, 6f)

Darting across from a wide berth, Hammer The Hammer (9/2) never saw another rival on his way to success in the fifth race, coming home a facile 4 ¼ lengths clear for Tom Eaves and Kevin Ryan. Showing early pace from the outset, Hammer The Hammer was keen to get on with things in Race 5, taking the lead and setting a frenetic gallop up top as Diligently (10/1) Bob Mali (6/5F) gave chase. Winding up the tempo a couple of furlongs from home, Hammer The Hammer showed a lightning turn of foot upon entering the home straight, settling the race in a matter of strides and bounding clear of his rivals to record a most impressive victory. A great month for connections, owner B T McDonald also combined with Kevin Ryan when We Never Stop won the valuable All-Weather Sprint Handicap at Newcastle on AW Trials Day last month!

Race 6 – Heineken Maiden Stakes (GBB/GBB Plus Race) (Class 3, 3yo, 1m 2 ½f)

Ridden masterfully by Tom Marquand, Daiquiri Bay (11/4) was an impressive winner of the penultimate race on Day One, striding 5-lengths clear at the line to score for Alan King. Towards the rear for much of the race, Daiquiri Bay was ridden patiently for the most part, sitting around six lengths behind Mister Winston (15/2) as the field headed into the final half mile. Ridden along three furlongs from home, Daiquiri Bay looked in need of some luck around the home turn. However, switched wide and making ground with every stride, Daiquiri Bay soon reeled in the leaders, edging ahead a furlong out before stretching clear towards the line. A fruitful combination when teaming up, Marquand and King also took the 2019 Northumberland Plate with former Roodee winner Who Dares Wins; a horse who also placed in three Chester Cups!

Race 7 – Horseradish Catering & Events Handicap (Class 3, 4yo+, 7f)

Unfancied in the market and drawn out wide, Probe (12/1) defied the odds to take the final race of the day in determined style, finishing a head in front to land the spoils for Kieran O’Neill and Jennie Candlish. Held up towards the back, Probe was another to be ridden patiently in the latter races, clinging onto the coattails of stablemate Spirit Genie (11/1) as Paws For Thought (28/1) led the field around the turn for home. As the field concertinaed, it soon appeared that Probe was full of running, switched out wide by Kieran O’Neill as the leaders began to fold under the pressure. Now with clear daylight, Probe duly responded to his rider’s urgings in the final furlong, sticking on straight and true to hold off an unlucky Supreme King (18/1) by a head. A nineteenth winner of the campaign under both codes, Jennie Candlish is in fine form this year!

Race report by Adam Perkins