Boodles May Festival Ladies Day 2026

Racing Reports

7 May 2026

The Boodles May Festival Ladies Day had it all in 2026, with Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore once again lighting up the Roodee in amongst Best Dressed Competitions. The going caused somewhat of a stir after Race 1, but remained Good overall.

Race report by Adam Perkins.

1:30 pm

THE CAA STELLAR HANDICAP STAKES

A record breaker last year, Roman Dragon (4/1) added an unprecedented 8th course win to his CV with victory in the opening race, the Roodee hero just about lasting home by a head to score for Oisin Murphy and Hugo Palmer. Sharply away, Roman Dragon raced in a share of fourth place through the halfway point, with Seven Questions (13/2) leading them home. Swinging around the home turn, Roman Dragon was delivered to lead around a furlong from home, and despite a late flurry from Dubai Bling on his outer, the plucky 7-year-old stuck his neck out to move further clear in the Roodee record books!

Results

Winner
Name: Roman Dragon (3)
Owner: Nick Hughes & Owen Promotions Ltd
Prize: £45,000
Trainer: Hugo Palmer
Jockey: Oisin Murphy

The Race
Distance: 5f 15y
Prize: £45,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 11
Non-Runners: 2

2:05 pm

THE BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF MAIDEN STAKES

Providing a quickfire double for trainer and jockey, Donegal Rose (9/4F) came home strongest of all to land the second race of the day for Murphy and Palmer, holding on by half a length at the line. Awkward out the gates, Donegal Rose was forced to wait in rear division for the majority of Race 2, still with around 10 lengths to find as Penny Capri (11/1) led them into the straight. However, switched wide and staying on strongly, Donegal Rose hit top gear around a furlong from home, swooping into the lead to land the spoils for her owners, including 2024 World Snooker champion Kyren Wilson!

Results

Winner
Name: Donegal Rose (8)
Owner: Cannon Morris Owen Wilson
Prize: £40,000
Trainer: Hugo Palmer
Jockey: Oisin Murphy

The Race
Distance: 5f 110y
Prize: £40,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 11

2:35 pm

THE BOODLES RAINDANCE DEE STAKES

Another potential Classic contender for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien, Constitution River ran out a most impressive winner of the Dee Stakes, scooting clear in fine style to score by 7 lengths. Kept in third as stablemate Flushing Meadows (16/1) helped to set the pace, Constitution River travelled smoothly throughout under Ryan Moore, moving best of all as they entered the final half mile. Sneaking up the inside rail as, Shayem (14/1) led them into the straight, Constitution River was soon away and gone, bounding clear to secure a dominant victory and a record 13th Dee Stakes for Aidan O’Brien!

Results

Winner
Name: Constitution River (3)
Owner: M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg
Prize: £100,000
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore

The Race
Distance: 1m 2f 70y
Prize: £100,000
Class: 1

Runners
Runners: 6

3:05 pm

THE LADBROKES ORMONDE STAKES

A second quickfire double of the week for trainer and jockey, Moore & O’Brien struck again in the Ormonde Stakes with the top-rated Jan Brueghel (4/7F), a brilliant 2 ½ length winner of the feature. Following a similar pattern to Race 3, Jan Brueghel was kept in midfield as stablemate Illinois (9/2) set the pace, never involved until the tempo stepped up around the home turn. Switched to the outside of Sons And Lovers (16/1) a furlong out, Jan Brueghel came home best of all down the straight, staying on strongly in the closing stages to secure a record 8th win in the race for both trainer and jockey!

Results

Winner
Name: Jan Brueghel (5)
Owner: Westerberg/Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith
Prize: £150,000
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore

The Race
Distance: 1m 5f 84y
Prize: £150,000
Class: 1

Runners
Runners: 8

3:40 pm

THE XENON WORKPLACE HANDICAP STAKES

Rewarding sustained market support, McMurray (13/8F) did just enough at the finish to land the spoils for Billy Loughnane and George Boughey, sticking on well to come home a neck in front. Not overly quick to begin, McMurray was made to settle in mid-division through the early stages, sat in behind a wall of horses headed by the frontrunning Cool Molly (12/1). As the pace collapsed around the home turn, the gaps opened up quite nicely for McMurray in the final furlong, sneaking into the lead shortly before the line to score for the same owner/trainer/jockey as last week’s 2000 Guineas winner Bow Echo!

Results

Winner
Name: McMurray (8)
Owner: Exors of the Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
Prize: £45,000
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Billy Loughnane

The Race
Distance: 7f 127y
Prize: £45,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 14

4:10 pm

THE HALLIWELL JONES HANDICAP STAKES

A winner here on his reappearance run last season, Let’s Dream (7/2) just about managed to repeat the feat when scoring by a nose in Race 6, driven out to score for Hector Crouch and Michael Bell. Tucked away in midfield from the outset, Let’s Dream waited patiently throughout the penultimate contest, racing alongside Organ (11/1) as Spioradalta (12/1) set the pace. Benefitting from a perfect run up the inside as the field turned for home, Let’s Dream took full advantage in the closing stages, sticking on determinedly to deny Organ in the shadows of the post and land a 41st winner of the season for Hector Crouch, a jockey who also rode three Listed winners last season!

Results

Winner
Name: Let's Dream (4)
Owner: Mrs l. Corbani
Prize: £30,000
Trainer: Michael Bell
Jockey: Hector Crouch

The Race
Distance: 1m 2f 70y
Prize: £30,000
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 14

4:45 pm

THE CHESTER HANDICAP STAKES

Causing a shock at yesterday’s meeting, James Owen and The Gredley Family did so again when Magnetude (12/1) ran out a gritty winner of the finale, pushed out to score by length under Harry Davies. Determined to make all, Magnetude quickly catapulted himself into the lead in the early stages, holding sway from the well-backed Mythical Bay (9/4F) in second place. Still travelling best of all with a couple of furlongs to go, Magnetude pushed further clear around the final bend, keeping on gamely for pressure to secure a stylish all-the-way win for last year’s Chester Cup winning connections!

Results

Winner
Name: Magnetude (8)
Owner: The Gredley Family
Prize: £27,000
Trainer: James Owen
Jockey: Harry Davies

The Race
Distance: 1m 4f 63y
Prize: £27,000
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 9

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