Chester Boodles May Festival – Day 2 Preview

The middle afternoon of Chester’s Boodles May Festival is on Thursday and will be headlined by the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at 3.15pm on the Roodee.

It’s another seven-race offering from Chester (1.45pm-4.45pm) and you can watch every race via live streaming when logged into MansionBet. Check out our tipster’s selections for all the action on Thursday.

1.45 – Satchell Moran Solicitors Business Interruption Claims Handicap (5f)

Jabbarockie is drawn to attack in stall one and he could back up his all-the-way winning return at Musselburgh from just 3lb higher in the ratings. Mondammej is a big player if building on his impressive Pontefract success last month back on the turf but maybe 2019 runner-up COPPER KNIGHT is the value at the prices. He’s got something to find on Musselburgh form with Jabbarockie but is entitled to be sharper for that seasonal bow. He’s well drawn and has C&D-winning form (2-4 here) while he’s dangerously well-handicapped now.

Selection: Copper Knight @ 13/2

2.15 – tote+ Biggest Dividends At tote.co.uk Dee Stakes (Listed, 1m2f)

Yibir ran well in Sandown’s Classic Trial on his return to action, making the frame in a clear third, and has a strong chance of being involved again now. Maximal was second in a good conditions event at Newbury a week before that – form that’s been franked since – and is also shortlisted but the vote goes to FOXES TALES for Andrew Balding’s team. He impressed in his Newbury maiden win (1m, good) last month in what was just his second run. This trip should bring about plenty of improvement and he looks talented.

Selection: Foxes Takes @ 8/1

2.45 – Deepbridge Estate Planning Service Handicap (7½f)

Buxted Too has fared well in the draw (stall one) and comes here having scored on the all-weather at Chelmsford in a maiden last month and since run into second at 40/1 in Sandown’s Esher Cup (1m, good). He’s on the up and has William Buick on his side now. ALEAS will have to be alert to combat a wide draw but Ralph Beckett’s Archipenko gelding was unlucky not to win all three starts last year (2-3) and could be capable of significant progress as a three-year-old. He just about gets the nod.

Selection: Aleas @ 6/1

3.15 – tote+ Pays You More At tote.co.uk Ormonde Stakes (Group 3, 1m5½f)

Japan went 0-5 last season at 1m2f-1m4f, each of those starts in Group 1 company. He drops in class and rises in trip on his seasonal return. He hasn’t shown his best first time out in the past and has stamina to prove on this quirky track, so the price is a short one despite the potential for him to prove too good. MORANDO thrashed a good field in this race in 2019 on soft ground in what his seasonal comeback. He is proven to go well fresh and the rain falling this week is in his favour so he’s a big player. Trueshan and Euchen Glen are factors too, despite their respective penalties.

Selection: Morando @ 5/1

3.45 – Destination 2 Handicap (1m2f)

A wide open contest. First Impression made smooth progress last season and has enjoyed a good stint over hurdles in the winter (ran in March, so fitness no issue), there’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic for him back on the level. LUCKY’S DREAM has achieved most of his success on the AW but he’s not badly treated at all if he can translate some very consistent recent form onto the grass.

Selection: Lucky’s Dream @ 10/1

4.15 – British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (5f)

Kodiac colt ZOLTAN STAR was sent off favourite on debut at Windsor (5f, good, good-to-firm in places) last month and he took second-best behind all-the-way winner Arboy Will. The third, fourth and sixth all came out and won next time and Richard Hannon’s youngster could be up to doing likewise now. Russellinthebushes and Mercurial were also debut runners-up and are shortlisted.

Selection: Zoltan Star @ SP

4.45 – Boodles Handicap (1m4f)

Sonning made a winning handicap debut at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) three weeks ago and should be in the mix again up in trip from 6lb higher. BAILEYS DERBYDAY ran well from the front at Yarmouth last time, only finding one rival too good, and similar tactics in this small-field Chester finale could pay off for Mark Johnston’s improving New Approach colt as he’s officially got 3lb in hand on the assessor for this race.

Selection: Bailey Derbyday @ SP

*All odds correct at time of writing