The Saturday Social in partnership with Allington Hughes Law

1:35 pm

Saturday Social Handicap

A rare runner on the Roodee for Bryan Smart, Station X (15/8F) justified market support by the skin of his teeth in the opener, holding on by a head under Chester regular David Probert. Sharply away, Station X quickly established an early lead through the opening couple of furlongs, setting a brisk tempo in front of Ran Amok (11/1) and Miraculous (5/1). Travelling with plenty of zest on the run into the straight, Station X kicked for home off the final turn and looked the likeliest winner a furlong out. However, Run Amok kept the leader up to his work in the closing stages, just falling shy in the shadows of the post as Station X held on to secure an 11^th winner of the season for trainer Bryan Smart!

Results

Winner
Name: Station X
Owner: Mr S Chapell & Partner
Prize: £12,885
Trainer: Bryan Smart
Jockey: David Probert

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £12,885
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 10

2:10 pm

Ladbrokes Get More With Racing Bet Builder Handicap

A rare runner on the Roodee for Bryan Smart, Station X (15/8F) justified market support by the skin of his teeth in the opener, holding on by a head under Chester regular David Probert. Sharply away, Station X quickly established an early lead through the opening couple of furlongs, setting a brisk tempo in front of Ran Amok (11/1) and Miraculous (5/1). Travelling with plenty of zest on the run into the straight, Station X kicked for home off the final turn and looked the likeliest winner a furlong out. However, Run Amok kept the leader up to his work in the closing stages, just falling shy in the shadows of the post as Station X held on to secure an 11^th winner of the season for trainer Bryan Smart!

Results

Winner
Name: Jedaal
Owner: Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum
Prize: £25,770
Trainer: E.Walker
Jockey: Ashley Lewis

The Race
Distance: 7f 127y
Prize: £25,770
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 9
Non-Runners: 2

2:47 pm

Opera Grill Chester Selling Stakes

Subject to a late gamble, Poppy Foxy (100/30JF) continued the winning spree of favourites when landing the third race, sticking to the far rail to score by a length for Jack Doughty and Charlie Clover. Benefitting from a prime position in Box 2, Poppy Foxy broke well before settling behind the leaders in the early stages, racing a couple of lengths behind her fellow Nick Bradley inmate Invicta Rose (11/2). Struggling for room around the home turn, Poppy Foxy looked in trouble with two furlongs to go. However, as the gaps opened up the inside rail, Poppy Foxy found a golden highway over the far side, sticking on stoutly to land an 18^th winner of the season for jockey Jack Doughty!

Results

Winner
Name: Poppy Foxy
Owner: Nick Bradley Racing 27 & OddsonSyndicate
Prize: £12,885
Trainer: Charlie Clover
Jockey: Jack Doughty

The Race
Distance: 7f
Prize: £12,885
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 11

3:23 pm

Colette, Lynn And Rachel's 50th Birthday Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Having had a winner at the track a day prior, Roger Varian struck again with his only other Roodee runner Ultrasoul (100/30F) in Race 4, the progressive 4-year-old pulling out all the stops to score by half a length under Robbie Downey. Full of beans through the opening mile of the contest, Ultrasoul was never too far away from early pacesetter Lexington Jet (16/1), racing between rivals as the field fanned out into the home straight. Threading through an opening to the outside of Sea Founder (7/1), Ultrasoul was soon in the ascendancy passing the furlong marker, pulling out more under firm pressure to secure a second winner for Robbie Downey since returning from Australia!

Results

Winner
Name: Ultrasoul
Owner: Mr H Yamamoto
Prize: £12,885
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Robbie Downey

The Race
Distance: 1m 2-1/2f
Prize: £12,885
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 10
Non-Runners: 1

4:00 pm

John Smith's Handicap

Improving his track record to 1-3-1-1, Tricky Tel (3/1F) fired in a second winner of the day for David Probert in the fifth race, holding on by a neck to land the spoils for local trainer Hugo Palmer. In a race with no less than six previous course and distance winners, Tricky Tel was perfectly positioned throughout, tracking in behind Roodee regulars Al Hussar (8/1) and Rosenpur (11/1) around Castle Bend. Making his move two furlongs out, Tricky Tel readily took over down the home straight, and despite a late lunge from Atomic Force (11/2), the leader had just enough in hand to notch a third course victory. On the scoreboard again, that’s now five winners at Chester this year for Hugo Palmer!

Results

Winner
Name: Tricky Tel
Owner: Hewitt, Owen & Partner
Prize: £12,885
Trainer: Hugo Palmer
Jockey: David Probert

The Race
Distance: 5f
Prize: £12,885
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 10

4:37 pm

Roodee Handicap

Admirably consistent, Fox Journey (3/1) readily put it all together to secure the sixth race of the day, bounding clear by 7 lengths to score for Zak Wheatley and Declan Carroll. Moving nicely in behind the leaders, Fox Journey had a perfect toe into the two-mile contest, the pace being set by Cascade Hall (4/1), with market leader Solar Pass (9/4F) sat towards his inside. After negotiating the final turn with aplomb, Fox Journey soon loomed large down the centre of the track, and no sooner had Solar Pass taken the lead, Fox Journey stole it back, going on to score in fine style. No stranger to the Roodee, winning owner Brian Chambers also scored here with Seantrabh in 2023!

Results

Winner
Name: Fox Journey
Owner: Mr Brian Chambers
Prize: £7,731
Trainer: Declan Carroll
Jockey: Zak Wheatley

The Race
Distance: 2m
Prize: £7,731
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 9
Non-Runners: 2

5:12 pm

The Summer Saturday on 27th June Handicap Stakes

A winner on two of his last three outings, Bernard Llewellyn’s Shipshape (4/1) did just enough to pull another victory out of the bag in Race 7, scoring by ¾ of a length to provide David Probert with his third winner of the day. In touch with the leaders from the outset, Shipshape was always prominent throughout the finale, travelling nicely under Probert as Helmsley (100/30) set a modest tempo on the front end. Still on the bridle and moving sweetly into the final half mile, the eye was drawn to Shipshape in the closing stages, and after taking the lead off the home turn, the consistent 4-year-old ran on determinedly to record a 7^th winner of the year for veteran trainer Bernard Llewellyn!

Results

Winner
Name: Shipshape
Owner: B J Llewellyn & Partner
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Bernard Llewellyn
Jockey: David Probert

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

Runners
Runners: 12