Music Weekend Saturday with the Bootleg Beatles in Partnership with Excell Supply

Racing Reports

11 Jul 2026

On an afternoon with eight competitive races to enjoy, Chester’s Music Weekend welcomed The Bootleg Beatles to the Roodee in July 2026, leaving racegoers twisting and shouting for more. The City Plate Stakes (Listed) was the feature race of the day, with ground conditions described as Good (Good to Firm in places).

Race report by Adam Perkins

1:35 pm

The Excell Supply Maiden Fillies' Stakes

Making the long trip from Lambourn all the sweeter, Dream Vega (10/11F) landed the opening race in fine style for trainer Ed Walker, running on well under Ashley Lewis to score by 3 ¾ lengths. Always travelling powerfully, Dream Vega stalked the leaders in third place through the opening half mile, catching the eye with every stride as the race began in earnest. Given the hurry-up rounding the turn, Dream Vega soon cleared away in emphatic style, bounding clear in the final furlong to land the spoils. A trainer in good form, Ed Walker also scored at Royal Ascot this year with 50/1 shot Ten Bob Tony!

Results

Winner
Name: Dream Vega
Owner: Hot to Trot Racing 2 & Mr J Fill
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Ed Walker, Upper Lambourn
Jockey: Ashley Lewis

The Race
Distance: 7f 1y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 8
Non-Runners: 1

2:10 pm

The John Smiths Handicap Stakes

Making all from an inside berth, Secret Mistral (2/1JF) continued her consistent form when returning a comfortable winner of Race 2, seeing off the opposition by 1 ¾ lengths for Myla Coppins and Tony Carroll. Crashing out of the starting gate, Secret Mistral was quickly into stride, setting a quick tempo out in front ahead of General Assembly (16/1) through the halfway point. Getting first run on the field around the bend, Secret Mistral proved a tough nut to crack in the final quarter mile, galloping on relentlessly down the straight to hold off the slow-starting Knicks (6/1) in second place. A familiar sight in our winners’ enclosure, winning owner A Mills also enjoyed success here with Baltic Prince!

Results

Winner
Name: Secret Mistral
Owner: Mr A. Mills
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Tony Carroll
Jockey: Myla Coppins

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

Runners
Runners: 11
Non-Runners: 2

2:45 pm

The Tom Jones Live at Chester Racecourse Handicap Stakes

Defying lofty odds in the process, Advance Twentyfive (22/1) registered his first career victory in the third race of the day, hold on by ¾ of a length under Harry Russell for the Fahey team. Slowly away, Advance Twentyfive looked to have plenty to do in the early stages, encouraged along by his rider for much of the way as Miami Matrix (11/1) led the field towards halfway. Ridden along but gradually making ground up the inside, Advance Twentyfive sprung into action moving into the straight, and after guiding his mount over to the far running rail, Harry Russell seized the initiative to snatch the lead close home and secure his second winner at the track; his first coming back in 2022!

Results

Winner
Name: Advance TwentyFive
Owner: Advance Group UK Ltd
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Richard & Peter Fahey
Jockey: Harry Russell

The Race
Distance: 7f 127y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 9
Non-Runners: 1

3:18 pm

The Tom Jones Live at Chester Racecourse Handicap Stakes

A winner here on her most recent start, Crazee Icon (85/40F) repeated the feat in gritty style when successful in Race 4, storming home by a length to score for Jason Watson and Andrew Balding. Travelling nicely in amongst the chasing vanguard, Crazee Icon was never too far away from the action in the fourth race, sitting around two lengths off habitual frontrunner Lexington Jet (11/2) for much of the way. Switched wide towards the home turn, Crazee Icon soon found her way to the front under Jason Watson, and despite a late lunge from Sujet (8/1), the leader had just enough in the tank to score. A home bred filly, Crazee Icon is by Sixties Icon; winner of the 2006 St Leger Stakes!

Results

Winner
Name: Crazee Icon
Owner: Norman Court Stud
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Jason Watson

The Race
Distance: 7f 127y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 9

3:52 pm

The Raymond & Kathleen Corbett Memorial City Plate Stake

Bouncing back from two lesser runs Group 1s, Northern Champion (13/2) had just enough in the tank to land the feature race of the day, sneaking home by a neck to secure doubles for Ed Walker and Ashley Lewis. Breaking smartly from the starting stalls, Northern Champion latched onto the leaders through the opening half mile, racing in a share of third place behind previous course winner Myal (11/2). In the clear as the leaders swung wide off the bend, the final two furlongs panned out perfectly for Northern Champion, the new leader finding plenty of room along the far rail before staying on stoutly to secure a sixth course winner for Ashley Lewis from just 13 rides!

Results

Winner
Name: Northern Champion
Owner: TBT Racing
Prize: £60,000
Trainer: Ed Walker
Jockey: Ashley Lewis

The Race
Distance: 7f 1y
Prize: £60,000
Class: 1

Runners
Runners: 9

4:24 pm

The Excell Supply Handicap Stakes

Another to make all from an inside berth, Grasmere Boy (2/1) looked like one to follow when taking the sixth race by a length, keeping on strongly to score for Dylan Hogan and Julie Camacho. Ridden away from the gate, Grasmere Boy catapulted himself into the lead through the opening furlong, setting a brisk gallop ahead of Kody B (12/1) and Art Lover (5/1). Heading towards the home turn, Grasmere Boy really caught the eye at the head of affairs, still moving with plenty of zest under a confident Dylan Hogan, and after flicking the switch around a furlong from home, the leader stuck on willingly to land the spoils. A successful combination, owner G B Turnbull Ltd and Julie Camacho also won the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes in 2018 with formerly smart sprinter Lorton!

Results

Winner
Name: Grasmere Boy
Owner: G. B. Turnbull Ltd
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Julie Camacho
Jockey: Harry Davies

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 7
Non-Runners: 1

5:00 pm

The Minuty, The Spirit of Saint-Tropez Hanicap Stakes

Going one better than his most recent run on the Roodee, Nibras Gold (15/2) proved a tough nut to crack in the seventh race, gamely fending off his rivals by a head for Harry Davies and James Owen. Keen to take the race by the scruff of the neck, Harry Davies sent Nibras Gold straight into the lead after a quick breakaway, controlling a modest gallop ahead of Fast Fred (3/1F). Nudged along with a quarter mile to negotiate, Nibras Gold showed real guts entering the home straight, joined on either side half a furlong out before finding his second wind to edge home in a thrilling photo finish. Riding at the top of his game, Harry Davies has now recorded 10 winners since 2022 on the Roodee!

Results

Winner
Name: Nibras Gold
Owner: Value Racing - Nibras Gold
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: James Owen
Jockey: Harry Davies

The Race
Distance: 1m 4f 63y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 8

5:32 pm

The Bootleg Beatles Live at Chester Apprentice Handicap Stakes (GBBPLUS Race)

Winless on the flat for almost three years, Vaguely Royal (11/2) returned to the winner’s enclosure in fine style when successful in the finale, staying on by 1 ¾ lengths to score for Ryan Kavanagh and Ian Williams. Ridden patiently towards the rear, Vaguely Royal wasn’t involved for much of the seventh race, kept quiet as market leader Gaelic Approach (6/4F) set a modest tempo in front. However, after being switched wide and ridden up into the lead through the halfway point, Vaguely Royal soon had the race under control, travelling best of all down the back before galloping on strongly to hold all challengers at bay in the closing stages. Familiar with the Chester winners’ podium, owners Eventmasters Racing have also enjoyed success here twice with Turanga Leela!

Results

Winner
Name: Vaguely Royal
Owner: Eventmasters Racing
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Ian Williams
Jockey: Ryan Kavanagh

The Race
Distance: 1m 6f 87y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 7
Non-Runners: 1

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