Chester May Festival - Thursday Preview - 05/05/22

The first race on the Thursday of the Chester May Festival is the ICM Stellar Sports Handicap, where ten line up for over £20,000 in prize money.

Racing over 5f, you don’t want to be out wide here, with three of the past four renewals going to the plum draw.

Former course winner Milita has landed stall 1 this year so we wouldn’t rule him out at a price however Sunday Sovereign is fairly drawn in 5 and looks primed for a big run after a recent pipe-opener.

He boasts a 100% S/R at the course having won off 1lb lower here last August and his outing at Musselburgh looked an obvious prep with him being kept wide throughout.

There are plenty of pace angles here so his ability to stay 6f may also prove a positive.

Second up is the Deepbridge Handicap where a maximum of nine line up over an extended 7f.

This is an open looking affair, but Outgate is one that looks well handicapped off his current mark, and it is interesting connections have booked Ryan Moore.

The grey colt was twice a winner as a 2yo amongst creditable runs in useful handicaps and his return at Newmarket saw him progress again.

He goes up 3lb for that but it is justified and he has been handed the plum draw this afternoon.

Next up is the first pattern-class race of the afternoon where Aidan O’Brien looks to enhance his excellent record in the Dee Stakes.

The legendary handler has won this an incredible six times since 2012 and he runs just the one this year.

Star Of India has been a talking horse having reportedly progressed well over the winter following an impressive victory at Leopardstown on debut and his run in the Craven can likely be marked up as the 1m journey was always going to be on the short side.

Now upped to 10f back on a left-handed track he should take the beating.

The other highlight race on the card is the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes where we believe Ralph Beckett’s Albaflora will take plenty of beating.

Just denied in the Group1 Champions Fillies & Mares last term, this 5yo mare is still on the up, and this represents a nice drop in grade for her seasonal debut.

She has an excellent record fresh and won’t mind any rainfall.

We have a tentative each-way vote in the 15:40 with bookmakers offering five places in what looks a trappy handicap over 10f.

The top two in the betting hold obvious claims however Pride Of Priory is win only price and Enfranchise is drawn in the car park.

At a bigger price, Group One Power may just come on for his recent spin on the AW which would give him half a chance in this.

On previous form, notably his fourth in the King George V Stakes, he is very well handicapped, and he proved his well-being last term running with credit in all but one of seven starts.

He has a good draw in 4 and the yard do well here.

The penultimate race on the card sees the two year olds line up in an event won by the likes of Dark Angel, Gabrial & Mehmas in previous seasons.

Although vulnerable to a smart newcomer, Explicit looks the one to side with here, especially with Franny Norton booked to ride from a nice draw.

Mark Johnston’s horses are often suited by this front-running course so we expect Franny to be prominent throughout as long as they break on terms.

Finally on Thursday we have seven unexposed three year olds taking on the 1m4f journey.

This looks a race to follow with the majority likely to pick up races this season.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge has to be feared as a G1 entrant racing in a handicap off 88 and Mark Johnston’s runner is sure to be popular with him landing this event twice in the past three years, however we are siding with Abbado, who was a winner here back in September.

Sir Mark Prescott’s smartly bred colt was always going to progress moving up in distance as a 3yo so it is a big plus he was able to land two novice events last term.

This isn’t an easy starting point but we wouldn’t be surprised if he reaches pattern company this term and the yard are starting to get going having had plenty run well in the past week.