Boodles May Festival Ladbrokes Chester Cup Day 2026

1:30 pm

THE CAA STELLAR GREAT CHESHIRE HANDICAP STAKES

Recording an emphatic success in the opening race, Respond (10/11F) was different class under Oisin Murphy, taking home first prize by 4 ¾ lengths for Andrew Balding and Highclere Racing. Quickly into an early lead, Respond set a quick tempo at the head of affairs, holding a length advantage over Whip Cracker (8/1) through the mile marker. Travelling smoothly as his opponents began to wave the white flag, Respond merely had to be nudged clear around the home turn, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides and leaving Whip Cracker to pick up the pieces in second. A strong partnership, Balding and Highclere also teamed up to win the 2012 Dante Stakes with Bonfire!

Results

Winner
Name: Respond (6)
Owner: Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Teal
Prize: £45,000
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy

The Race
Distance: 1m 2f 70y
Prize: £45,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 11
Non-Runners: 3

2:05 pm

THE BOODLES DARLEY EBF MAIDEN STAKES

Quickly back on the scoresheet, Murphy & Balding combined for another victory in the second race where Galiyan (9/4) showed significant improvement to score by 2 ¼ lengths. Breaking well, Galiyan was always to the fore throughout Race 2, travelling nicely in behind pacesetter Joulany (10/11F) as the field made their way towards the final half mile. Nudged along but with the leader in his sights, Galiyan gradually pulled back the deficit around the home turn, poking his nose in front a furlong from home before staying on strongly to secure a second ever winner for owner Rashid Al Saud!

Results

Winner
Name: Galiyan (2)
Owner: Rashid Al Saud
Prize: £40,000
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy

The Race
Distance: 1m 4f 63y
Prize: £40,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 7

2:35 pm

THE DEEPBRIDGE HUXLEY STAKES

Heroic in winning the 2025 Chester Vase and Epsom Derby, Lambourn (6/4F) once again stamped his class on the Roodee with victory in the Huxley Stakes, holding on by a neck to land a fifth winner of the week for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien. Wearing cheekpieces for the first time, Lambourn certainly made hard work of it in the third race, nudged along a full five furlongs from home as Bay City Roller (9/2) moved upsides to challenge. However, responding incredibly well for sustained pressure around the turn and into the straight, Lambourn pulled out extra under Ryan Moore, gamely seeing off Bay City Roller to land a record ninth win in the race for his jockey!

Results

Winner
Name: Lambourn (5)
Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith
Prize: £170,000
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore

The Race
Distance: 1m 2f 70y
Prize: £170,000
Class: 1

Runners
Runners: 9

3:05 pm

THE LADBROKES CHESTER CUP

Consistent in Ireland, A Piece Of Heaven (7/1) made the trip over the Irish Sea all the more worth it when staying on strongly to land the 2026 Chester Cup, sneaking home by half a length for Dylan Brown McMonagle and Joseph O’Brien. Sharply away from the inside stall, A Piece Of Heaven sat in prime position through the first circuit and a half, racing in a share of second place as Duraji (50/1) led the way. Ridden along to close on the leader around the final turn for home, A Piece Of Heaven needed every yard of the marathon trip to usurp Duraji, snatching the lead 100 yards out before staying on well to deny Maxi King (25/1). More commonly seen on the Irish jumps racing scene, winning owners Syndicates.Racing also won two graded races in 2021 with star mare Grangee!

Results

Winner
Name: A Piece of Heaven (2)
Owner: Syndicates Racing
Prize: £170,000
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle

The Race
Distance: 2m 2f 130y
Prize: £170,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 16
Non-Runners: 1

3:40 pm

THE TOM JONES LIVE AT CHESTER RACECOURSE HANDICAP STAKES

A regular on the Roodee, Rosenpur (11/2) registered his third course victory in taking style when successful in the fifth race, making all to score by 1 ¼ lengths for Darragh Keenan and Jennie Candlish. Fastest away from the gates, Rosenpur set a rapid tempo through the opening half mile, with Clonmacash (9/1) a couple of lengths behind. Yet to be asked a question, Rosenpur piled on the pressure in the final quarter, and with little to no challengers coming from behind, the course specialist merely had to be ridden out to score for Candlish & Keenan, who also won two Listed races in France last year!

Results

Winner
Name: Rosenpur (2)
Owner: Brian Verinder & Alan Baxter
Prize: £30,000
Trainer: Jennie Candlish
Jockey: Darragh Keenan

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £30,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 13
Non-Runners: 3

4:10 pm

THE LADBROKES GET A FREE RACE BET TODAY CHESTER PLATE HANDICAP STAKES

A fourth and final winner of the week for Andrew Balding arrived in the shape of Shrimp Shady (13/2) in the Chester Plate, the consistent 4-year-old lasting home by ¾ of a length under Rob Hornby. Racing fairly handily through the opening circuit and a half, Shrimp Shady sat in a share of fifth place for the most part, moving alongside Irish raiders Kingstonian (6/4F) and Tribal Star (14/1) as the home straight came into view. Switched to race down the centre of the track, Shrimp Shady did all his best work in the closing stages, staying on stoutly in the final furlong to scoop a valuable pot. A win for Mr M W Pendarves, the owner also scored at the 2023 Dante meeting with Scampi!

Results

Winner
Name: Shrimp Shady (10)
Owner: Mr M. W. Pendarves
Prize: £50,000
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Rob Hornby

The Race
Distance: 2m 2f 140y
Prize: £50,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 17

4:45 pm

THE IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING HANDICAP STAKES

Saddling the biggest priced winner of the week in the process, Grace Harris made the most of the seventh race when last year’s Lily Agnes runner-up Exclamation (33/1) came home ¾ of a length in front under Ashley Lewis. Expertly navigated from a wide berth in Stall 9, Exclamation was soon in the ascendancy in the penultimate race of the day, holding a small lead over Henrythenate (50/1) as they rounded Castle Bend. Ridden along but readily pulling out extra, Exclamation was not for stopping down the home straight, kicking clear once challenged and eventually winning a shade cosily for trainer Grace Harris, who had her best ever season on the flat last year with 18 winners!

Results

Winner
Name: Exclamation (1)
Owner: Foxhills Racing Limited
Prize: £30,000
Trainer: Grace Harris
Jockey: Ashley Lewis

The Race
Distance: 5f 15y
Prize: £30,000
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 13
Non-Runners: 2

5:20 pm

THE CHESTER ROMAN DAY ON 30TH MAY APPRENTICE HANDICAP STAKES

Rounding off a solid week for Manor House Stables, Patagonia Girl (9/2) was an all-the-way winner of the finale under Jack Nicholls, making all to score by 1 ½ lengths for Hugo Palmer. Another to get across from a wide stall, Patagonia Girl did really well to take the lead in the early stages, setting a modest gallop through the first mile of the contest with Renesmee (33/1) and Sportingsilvermine (7/1) for company. One of the few still on the bridle as they entered the final half mile, Patagonia Girl was sent for home around the turn, and with most of her opposition struggling to land a blow, the plucky 4-year-old stayed on beautifully to secure a 40th career winner for young pilot Jack Nicholls!

Results

Winner
Name: Patagonia Girl (4)
Owner: Mr D R Passant & Mr E Spragg
Prize: £30,000
Trainer: Hugo Palmer
Jockey: Jack Nicholls

The Race
Distance: 1m 4f 63y
Prize: £30,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 15
Non-Runners: 1