Powells Jewellery Ladies Day - Chester Racecourse

Racing Reports

Powells Jewellery Ladies Day

2 Aug 2026

With Best Dressed competitions, DJ sets, and a seven-race card to boot, racegoers had plenty to look forward to on Powells Jewellery Ladies Day in August 2026. The feature race arrived at 2:40pm in the Chester Stakes (Listed), where eight went to post in a competitive renewal. Going conditions were listed as Good To Soft (Soft In Places) throughout.

Race report by Adam Perkins

2:05 pm

The Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Stakes

Kept fresh having finished second here at the May Festival, Whip Cracker (7/1) went one place better in today’s opening race, launching a late bid to scrape home by half a length for Hector Crouch and Richard Hughes. Racing in midfield throughout, Whip Cracker was caught out wide for much of the way, pushed along three furlongs out as Goldmoyne (10/1) tried to slip the field. However, gradually finding his way into it under firm pressure, Whip Cracker was set alight down the straight, battling his way into the lead half a furlong out and just doing enough to keep Collecting Coin (9/1) at bay. A solid year for the trainer, Richard Hughes is now up to 48 winners for the 2026 season!

Results

Winner
Name: Whip Cracker (4)
Owner: Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori
Prize: £60,000
Trainer: Richard Hughes
Jockey: Hector Crouch

The Race
Distance: 7f 127y
Prize: £60,000
Class: 2

2:40 pm

The Virgin Bet Chester Stakes

Recapturing his best form, Midak (16/1) defied lofty odds to take the Chester Stakes by a neck, battling well to land the spoils for Paul Mulrennan and Ian Williams. Keen to make all, Midak was pushed into the lead from a very early stage under Mulrennan, setting a modest gallop ahead of Lady Vivian (10/1) in second place. Despite travelling best of all as they rounded the home turn for the last time, Midak was made to work hard in the final furlong, with By The Book (2/1F) pressing all the way to the line but ultimately falling just short of the plucky leader. A profitable year for the owner, Fitri Hay also won at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, courtesy of Wilful in the County Hurdle!

Results

Winner
Name: Midak (5)
Owner: Mrs Fitri Hay
Prize: £60,000
Trainer: Ian Williams
Jockey: Paul Mulrennan

The Race
Distance: 1m 6f 87y
Prize: £60,000
Class: 1

3:15 pm

The Powells Jewellery EBF Fillies' Conditions Stakes

Dropping back in trip having faded in a Group 3 at Deauville recently, Nicely (2/1F) got back to winning ways when taking the third race by a head, securing a double for Hector Crouch in the process. Prominent throughout, Nicely moved well up the inside rail during the early stages, racing in a share of third place as Bated Benevolence (5/2) set the pace ahead of The Can Can Queen (20/1) out wide. Nudged along with a couple of furlongs to negotiate, Nicely soon found herself in prime position entering the home straight, and after a timely gap opened passing the furlong marker, she stayed on powerfully to provide trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy with his 25th winner of the season!

Results

Winner
Name: Nicely (5)
Owner: Amo Racing Limited
Prize: £20,000
Trainer: Kevin Philippart de Foy
Jockey: Hector Crouch

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £20,000
Class: 2

3:50 pm

The British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes

Marking herself as one to follow, Ivory Moon (4/6F) ran out an emphatic 3 ½ length winner of the fourth race, sailing clear to score for Billy Loughnane and George Boughey. Travelling with plenty of ease throughout the contest, Ivory Moon looked a classy recruit for Lady Bamford, moving nicely in third place behind Duty’s Call (5/1) and Lady Of Hay (7/2). Cruising around the home turn with plenty underneath him, Loughnane switched his mount to the outer of Duty’s Call, and as the leaders began to flounder, Ivory Moon sauntered clear in the final furlong to record a very stylish debut victory. Synonymous with smart fillies & mares, Lady Bamford also won the 2023 Epsom Oaks with Sariska!

Results

Winner
Name: Ivory Moon (4)
Owner: Lady Bamford
Prize: £20,000
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Billy Loughnane

The Race
Distance: 5f 15y
Prize: £20,000
Class: 4

4:25 pm

The Kore Systems Handicap Stakes

Gradually finding his feet for new trainer Pat Morris, Henrythenate (22/1) finally put it all together when landing the fifth race by 2 lengths, ridden clear to score by promising apprentice Jack Nicholls. Quickly across from the widest stall, Henrythenate soon established the lead in the opening furlong, setting a decent tempo ahead of market leader Alfa Duplicate (7/4F). Bidding to get first run on the field, Jack Nicholls pushed his mount a couple of lengths clear around Castle Bend, and with no immediate threats coming from behind, Henrythenate readily bounded clear to land a comfortable win. A regular on the Roodee, this victory marked Pat Morris’s second ever victory at Chester, his last coming in June 2019 with former Northumberland Plate winner Angel Gabrial!

Results

Winner
Name: Henrythenate (3)
Owner: Morris and Allan
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Patrick Morris
Jockey: Jack Nicholls

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

5:00 pm

The Powells Jewellery Handicap Stakes

A winner here in June, Station X (6/1) made it 2 for 2 on the Roodee when holding on by a neck to win Race 6, just doing enough to hold on for Paul Mulrennan and Bryan Smart. In a promising position from the outset, Station X sat in a share of second place through the opening couple of furlongs, racing alongside American Style (4/1 CF) as 8-time Roodee scorer Roman Dragon (4/1 CF) led them home. Pushed along rounding the final turn, Station X managed to steal the lead from Roman Dragon with a furlong to go, and despite a late bid from American Style on the far side, the leader had just enough in reserve to secure a 28th winner at the track for veteran jockey Paul Mulrennan!

Results

Winner
Name: Station X
Owner: Mr S. Chappell & Partner
Prize: £20,000
Trainer: Bryan Smart
Jockey: Paul Mulrennan

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £20,000
Class: 3

5:35 pm

The Celebrate National Racehorse Week Handicap Stakes

The widest margin winner of the day came in the final race, with Ralph Beckett’s Cranachan (9/2) taking the field apart by 6 lengths to secure a treble on the day for jockey Hector Crouch. Midfield for much of the way, Cranachan was ridden with patience under Hector Crouch, only beginning to make headway as Sea And Sun (9/4 JF) led them into the final three furlongs of the contest. Ridden up to keep tabs on the leader, it didn’t take long for Cranachan to stamp his authority, the talented son of Cracksman soon quickening clear to score in emphatic style. Improving every year, Hector Crouch is now up to 90 winners for 2026, with this year’s highlight coming at Newbury when successful in the Hungerford Stakes (Group 2) aboard Coppull!

Results

Winner
Name: Cranachan (8)
Owner: Mr Des Anderson
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Hector Crouch

The Race
Distance: 1m 7f 196y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 4

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