Roman Day 2026 - Chester Racecourse

1:15 pm

THE CHESTER ROMAN DAY MAIDEN FILLIES' STAKES

Improving for her recent debut at Ascot, Machadadorp (9/2) was delivered to perfection by Oisin Murphy to land the first race, coming home 1 ¾ lengths in front for the Andrew Balding team. Tucked away in midfield behind the leading pack, Machadadorp raced strongly under the Champion Jockey, moving well as market leader Town Queen (Evens F) led them into the straight. Switched wide off the bend, Machadadorp really found her stride in the final furlong, charging home down the outside to land the spoils for Cayton Park Stud Limited, who also won a Group 2 in Italy last year with Just Call Me Angel!

Results

Winner
Name: Machadadorp
Owner: Cayton Park Stud Limited
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy s

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

Runners
Runners: 11

1:50 pm

THE BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF NOVICE SAKES

Finding his feet as the race developed, Virtuous Star (12/1) looked a real star of the future when taking the second race under David Nolan, running on strongly to score by 1 ¼ lengths for Richard & Peter Fahey. Nudged out of a wide berth in Stall 9, Virtuous Star had to settle for a spot in midfield in the early stages, travelling with plenty of zest in the slipstream of Pure Grit (Evens F). As Blake’s Monarch (10/1) led the field around the home turn, Virtuous Star still had a bit of work to do to get on terms. However, showing a strong turn of foot, Virtuous Star stayed on beautifully in the final furlong, sneaking in front to secure an 18th winner of the year for seasoned professional David Nolan!

Results

Winner
Name: Virtuous Star
Owner: Mr M. A. Scaife
Prize: £40,000
Trainer: Richard & Peter Fahey, Malton
Jockey: David Nolan

The Race
Distance: 6f 17Y
Prize: £40,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 12

2:20 pm

THE KINGKABS SELLING STAKES

Benefitting from a step up in trip, Everatease (9/2) ran out a stylish winner of the seller, scooting clear to score by 2 ¾ lengths for Charles Bishop and Eve Johnson Houghton. Smartly away, Everatease raced prominently throughout Race 3, latching onto the coattails of Fortunate (150/1) as Stay On Tab (80/1) set the pace up front. Pushed along around the turn into the straight, it didn’t take long for Everatease to put the race to bed, sticking on gamely in the final furlong to leave Undercover Affair (5/4F) to fill second place. Unstoppable in 2025, Eve Johnson Houghton and Charles Bishop also combined to win three Group races with Zavateri last year, including the Group 1 National Stakes!

Results

Winner
Name: Everatease
Owner: Ever Equine
Prize: £25,000
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton, Blewbury
Jockey: Charles Bishop

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £25,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 12

2:53 pm

THE LOUISE KEEGAN HANDICAP STAKES

An admirably consistent type, Believitanducan (5/6F) put on a show when landing the fourth race of the day, easily seeing off all comers by 3 ¼ lengths for Billy Loughnane and Alan King. Prominent from the outset, Believitanducan was in prime position from a long way out in Race 4, tanking along ahead of Solar Pass (100/30), with Venezuelan (16/1) leading the way. Held onto until passing the two-furlong marker, Believitanducan was delivered to lead around the home turn, and after finding more for Loughnane’s urgings, the new leader powered home impressively to secure his sixth career victory. A jockey on the rise, Billy Loughnane rode 223 winners in 2025; a new 21st Century record!

Results

Winner
Name: Believeitandduncan
Owner: Owners Group 140
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Alan King, Barbury Castle
Jockey: Billy Loughnane

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

Runners
Runners: 10
Non-Runners: 1

3:30 pm

THE VIRGIN BET HANDICAP STAKES

Putting it all together on turf for the first time, Lexington Jet (20/1) was a fierce winner of the feature race, holding off a host of challengers to score by half a length for Silvestre De Sousa and Dave Loughnane. Rousting his mount out of the starting stalls, De Sousa was keen to get Lexington Jet to the front in the early stages, forcing the pace alongside Elements Of Fire (13/2) towards the halfway point. Ridden along off the home turn, it looked for all money that Lexington Jet would be swallowed up in the closing stages. However, sticking to his guns and pulling out more, the leader galloped on resolutely to see off the opposition and secure a 15th winner of the year for trainer Dave Loughnane!

Results

Winner
Name: Lexington Jet
Owner: Middleham Park Racing CXVI
Prize: £50,000
Trainer: David Loughnane
Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa

The Race
Distance: 7f 17y
Prize: £50,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 11
Non-Runners: 2

4:05 pm

THE JOHN SMITHS FILLIES' HANDICAP STAKES

Fourth or better in seven runs prior, Ruby’s Angel (7/2) landed a deserved victory when taking the sixth race by a neck, holding on to land the spoils for Hugo Palmer and Oisin Murphy. Breaking wide from Stall 12, Ruby’s Angel had to settle in rear division much of the contest, racing alongside her May Festival conqueror Cherry Baker (4/1) as Zighy (6/1) led the way. Still with plenty to do as the leaders swung into the straight, Ruby’s Angel was forced to switch wide with a furlong to go, but once the gaps appeared, the talented three-year-old stayed on powerfully hold off Cherry Baker towards the line. A fourth course winner of the year for the trainer, Hugo Palmer has started 2026 in style!

Results

4:38 pm

THE GENERAL ELLIOT CROFT HANDICAP STAKES

Highly progressive, Folk Pageant (11/4F) ran out a determined victor of Race 7, keeping on nicely to score by a length for Hector Crouch and Charlie Johnston. Always to the fore, Folk Pageant settled in a share of third place through the opening mile, racing a couple of lengths behind leader Crockham Heath (4/1), with Home Hero (4/1) for company. As Crockham Heath drifted right off the home turn, Hector Crouch had all the answers aboard Folk Pageant down the straight, rattling home down the middle of the track to secure a well-timed victory. A career-best year, Crouch rode 157 winners in 2025, including Listed success aboard subsequent Chester Stakes scorer Allonsy!

Results

Winner
Name: Folk Pageant
Owner: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Charlie Johnston, Middleham
Jockey: Hector Crouch

The Race
Distance: 1m 2f 70y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 10
Non-Runners: 1