15:05
Chester
Odds correct as of 1:17pm 06th May
Chester‘s May Festival concludes on Thursday and there are another seven races on the schedule and the race of the day is the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes. It’s an unusual track and it’s often prudent to side with horses who have performed well there before, so we’ve selected some course specialists. We’ve also picked out an outsider to follow and a trainer is bidding to win a fifth consecutive Dee Stakes. Take a look at our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
The Ormonde Stakes has an illustrious roll of honour and the Group 3 event takes place at 3.05. A field of eight has been declared and Aidan O’Brien’s two runners are the most popular in the betting. Jan Brueghel is a bonafide Group 1 performer and looks like the one to beat.
Illinois won this race last year and is entitled to go close but he has a bit to find with his stablemate. Rahiebb is consistent but doesn’t win too often, whilst Al Qareem has a 67 per cent course strike-rate and made a winning start to the season at Musselburgh last month.
Aidan O’Brien has an unbelievable record in the Dee Stakes, winning seven of the last nine renewals, and the Irishman has landed the winner in each of the last four years. He sends two runners this year and the exciting Constitution River looks like the leading candidate, having won a Group 2 last time out.
Roman Dragon certainly knows his way around here at Chester and the seven-year-old has won seven of his 20 course starts. He won this very race last year and has to go under consideration once again.
Karl Burke’s Al Qareem has won the Listed Stand Cup Stakes here over a furlong shorter on two occasions and finished second in this last year. It would be unwise to rule him out with that in mind.
Strength Of Spirit also represents Karl Burke and he was a winner of a seller over course and distance last season. In good form so far this season, he’s entitled to run his race once again.
If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.