The Virgin Bet Autumn Festival Saturday

Racing Reports

12 Sep 2026

A competitive eight-race card provided the perfect entertainment for Day 2 of the 2026 Autumn Festival. With the Stand Cup and Watergate Cup providing the early highlights, racegoers were always going to be in for a treat from the get-go! Ground conditions ranged between Good To Soft and Soft throughout the afternoon.

Race Report By Adam Perkins

1:30 pm

The Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes

Successful at York’s Ebor meeting last time out, Plage De Havre (3/1) continued in fine fettle to take the Stand Cup by ¾ of a length, landing the spoils for Callum Hutchinson and Andrew Balding. In a race where little changed throughout, Plage De Havre sat in a share of second place for much of the opening circuit, travelling nicely alongside market leader Dubai Honour (4/7F). As Grey Cuban (16/1) led the sextet around the final bend, Plage De Havre made his move up the inside rail, relegating the hot favourite to third place passing the furlong pole. With Dubai Honour lugging left and offering no form of challenge, Plage De Havre stayed on strongest of all to score. Another big winner for Saeed Suhail, the winning owner also won a Group 1 with Never So Brave last month!

Results

Winner
Name: Plage de Havre
Owner: Mr R.A.Pegum and Mr Paul Anthony Henry
Prize: £26736
Trainer: Andrew Baldin
Jockey: Callum Hutchinson

The Race
Distance: 1M 4f 63y
Prize: £26736
Class: 1

Runners
Runners: 6

2:05 pm

The Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Watergate Cup

Fourth on his only previous course start, Pole Star (11/1) went three places better to take the Watergate Cup by a length, keeping on well to score for Sean D Bowen and Charlie Johnston. Bustled up to take the early lead, Pole Star set a fairly modest gallop out in front through the opening mile, holding sway from 2023 Watergate Cup winner Tashkhan (18/1) and Irish raider Granite Bay (11/2). Still maintaining the advantage with half a mile to go, Pole Star increased the tempo towards the home turn, and despite the best efforts of Granite Bay in second place, the leader pulled out more in the final furlong, galloping on strongly to land a ninth course victory for jockey Sean D Bowen!

Results

Winner
Name: Pole Star
Owner: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Prize: £40,630
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Sean Dylan Bowen

The Race
Distance: 1m 7f 169y
Prize: £40,630
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 10
Non-Runners: 2

2:40 pm

The British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes

Second here on debut in July, Regency Royal (100/30) was another to improve for course experience, comfortably seeing off the opposition by 2 ½ lengths to land a double for Hutchinson and Balding. Travelling smoothly in the early stages, Regency Royal was never too far away from the action, racing in the slipstream of Green Star (11/1). Making headway around the home turn, Regency Royal went for a gap up the inside rail as Green Star committed for home, the pair locked in battle with a furlong to go. Gradually getting the better of the argument, Regency Royal ran out a tough winner in the closing stages, battling on strongly to score. Clearly a target for connections, Andrew Balding and Michael Blencowe also won this race last year with Ghost Mode!

Results

Winner
Name: Regency Royal
Owner: Mr M. A. R. Blencowe
Prize: £12,189
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Callum Hutchinson

The Race
Distance: 7f 1y
Prize: £12,189
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 8

3:20 pm

THE H.R Owen Lotus Manchester Nursery Handicap Stakes

Successful in his last two races, George Boughey’s This Moment (9/4F) extended his winning spree to three when running out a smooth winner of Race 4, quickening clear by 3 lengths under a straightforward ride from Grace McEntee. Straight into the lead from the outset, This Moment looked extremely comfortable on the sharp end, racing a length clear of Towelontheterrace (4/1) through halfway. Still travelling much the best out in front, This Moment barely got out of second gear around the home turn, and once let loose in the straight, the leader sprinted away in fine style to record a taking victory. A great day for the young rider, this marked Grace McEntee’s first winner on the Roodee!

Results

Winner
Name: This Moment
Owner: Exors of the Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
Prize: £8,126
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Grace McEntree

The Race
Distance: 5f 15y
Prize: £8,126
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 10

3:50 pm

The Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Stakes

Rewarding strong market support, Shafdar (6/4F) did just enough under Cieren Fallon to win the fifth race of the day, holding on by a length to score for winning trainer Ian Williams. Taking a keen hold in the early stages, Shafdar raced prominently through the opening mile of the contest, sitting a couple of lengths behind leader and former course winner Box To Box (4/1). Moving to the inside rail with a couple of furlongs to negotiate, Shafdar really caught the eye on the run for home, and once in the clear turning into the straight, the 4-year-old found plenty for pressure on his way to a gritty success. Another fruitful year for the trainer, Ian Williams has trained 7 winners at Chester this season!

Results

Winner
Name: Shafdar
Owner: The Green Bar Owners
Prize: £12,189
Trainer: Ian Williams
Jockey: Cieren Fallon

The Race
Distance: 1m 2f 70y
Prize: £12,189
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 10
Non-Runners: 1

4:30 pm

The Lee Martin 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap Stakes

Only once out of the first four in seven starts this season, Vidmiyr (9/2) was given the perfect ride by Hector Crouch to secure Race 6, ridden out to score by a length for trainer Jennie Candlish. Content to race towards the back, Vidmiyr was ridden with patience through the halfway stage, still with plenty in front of him as Vixey (9/2) led them towards Castle Bend. Travelling well into the race, Vidmiyr moved into third around the home turn, waiting for the gaps to appear under Hector Crouch. Switched wide passing the furlong marker, Vidmiyr was then unleashed to perfection, staying on resolutely down the outside to secure an 8^th Roodee winner of the year for his rider!

Results

Winner
Name: Vidmiyr
Owner: James Paul Services to Industry Ltd
Prize: £6,095
Trainer: Jennie Candlish
Jockey: Hector Crouch

The Race
Distance: 7f 127y
Prize: £6,095
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 8
Non-Runners: 2

5:10 pm

The Lee Martin 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap Stakes

Already a two-time winner here this season, Crazee Icon (9/4F) made it three when sprinting away to land the seventh race, coming home 4 ½ lengths clear to secure a Hutchinson-Balding treble. Adopting similar tactics to This Moment in the fourth race, Crazee Icon led from the outset in Race 7, holding a lead of a couple of lengths over Irish raider Apache Outlaw (13/2) through halfway. Extending his lead even further towards the final bend, Crazee Icon displayed a sharp turn of foot in the final couple of furlongs, and with nobody able to mount a challenge, the leader careered away in fine style to record a 13^th course winner of the year for Andrew Balding; an incredible effort!

Results

Winner
Name: Crazee Icon
Owner: Norman Court Stud
Prize: £6095
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Callum Hutchinson

The Race
Distance: 7f 127y
Prize: £6095
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 9

5:42 pm

The John Smith's Jump Jockeys Challenge Handicap Stakes

Second in this corresponding race a year ago, Nibras Gold (11/4F) went one place better to land the Jump Jockeys Challenge under Jonathan Burke, making all by 1 ¼ lengths for the James Owen team. Yet another to be successful from the front, Nibras Gold took the lead from an early stage and maintained it into the final quarter mile, racing two lengths clear of Sigliosa (7/1) in second place. Pushed along as the home straight came into view, Nibras Gold briefly looked like a sitting duck with just over a furlong to go. However, finding more under pressure, Nibras Gold had just enough in the locker to stay on strongly and land a first career victory at Chester for Jonathan Burke!

Results

Winner
Name: Nibras Gold
Owner: Value Racing - Nibras Gold
Prize: £6,095
Trainer: James Own
Jockey: Jonathan Burke

The Race
Distance: 1m 4f 63y
Prize: £6,095
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 11

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