May 08 / 15.05 Chester

15.05

Good

Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £79394
  • 1m 5f 84y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV4
View Course
Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.20
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 12221-

Last run: 215 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm) last June and went close in the St Leger (14.5f, good) in September before Group 2 win at Longchamp (1m7f, soft) in October; trainer has won three of the last six runnings; leading claims if at the top of his game on his reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(4)

21st Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Illinois

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

The supremely reliable performer (acted on any going) of 2024 and most of 2025 has gone and most of his performances since have been pretty grim in comparison; this season's clear exception was when he made class tell with his sights lowered in the 2m5f Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot, winning by a neck from French Master; the Goodwood Cup took him well out of his comfort zone again last time and he carried his head awkwardly, but the less demanding company today offers a bit of hope.

9/1

5th

3

(7)

28th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Illinois

9st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O’Brien

7l second to Trawlerman in 2025 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and beaten three-quarters of a length by Scandinavia in this; those performances were near his best but most since have been pretty grim; this season's clear exception was when he made class tell with sights lowered in the 2m5f Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot, winning by a neck from French Master, but latest start showed again that today's task is likely to take him well out of his comfort zone.

25/1

5th

5

(2)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 4y

16:25 Curragh

Illinois

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

2024 Queen's Vase winner; second in last year's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (good to firm) and runner-up again in the Goodwood Cup (2m, good); flopped when favourite for the Irish St Leger won by Al Riffa; satisfactory return in Ormonde at Chester before a dismal Coronation Cup run; bounced back from that when landing the Queen Alexandra.

2/1

2nd
2 (2)
Al Qareem

6/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 114-31 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Prominent-racer who made it 2-2 here with Listed win last September (1m4f, soft), and he landed the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge at Ascot (1m4f, soft) in October; narrow Listed win at Nottingham (1m6f, good) last month on his second start of the season and he's entitled to respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(5)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Uncharacteristically below par when well beaten at Chester last month and the track wasn't an excuse; four Group 3/Listed wins last year, including when making all in this under a 5lb penalty (same today), and he reappeared with a Listed win at Musselburgh in April; leading claims if back on song.

2/1

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

13/8

Form: 7/415- C

Last run: 184 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Listed winner here (14.4f, good) last August on sole course visit and highly creditable fifth in the Melbourne Cup next time; arrives fit from hurdling, having defied a lofty mark at Plumpton 18 days ago; receives 5lb from Illinois and he's a major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

Absurde

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

One of three for trainer; dual-purpose sort who has run creditably in the last three Melbourne Cups (rated 107 on the Flat); 2024 County Hurdle winner was well below his best in that race this season back from a break (2m1f, soft); improved display at Cork when 3.25l behind Ndaawi (16.5f, yielding); a good bit to find with Lossiemouth even if running to his rating, which he hasn't done so far this term.

40/1

2nd

3

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 70y

13:50 Cork

Absurde

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

Classy dual-purpose sort who has run creditably in the last three Melbourne Cups (rated 107 on the Flat); below best after a break in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham but should be sharper now and Harry Cobden has won on him before; top rated at 153 and obvious chance.

5/4

20th

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Absurde

11st 13lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Won this in 2024 and third last year, albeit off much lower marks; operated a little below his very best on the Flat last year, including in Australia in the autumn, which perhaps raises a few doubts as to whether he'll be able to find the career-best hurdle performance which will be needed to defy such a lofty mark.

16/1

Form: 32547-

Last run: 299 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Kept on well for fourth in Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) last June and could have potential at this new trip now back on the Flat, having gone 0-3 over hurdles this year for his new yard; however, this is a hot race and others hold stronger form claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

3

(10)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Mondo Man

9st 12lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Free-going sort but the efforts to make a success of him over hurdles finally paid off this year with his front-running win in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March; smart in Group races on the Flat in 2024 and May 2025, one to consider seriously in this first Flat handicap.

10/1

6th

2

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Mondo Man

11st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Initially disappointing over hurdles given how smart he was on the Flat, with his keen-going tendencies holding him back; however, a switch to front-running has yielded wins in a maiden here and the Imperial Cup at Sandown (10lb lower); both those came on soft ground but this faster surface won't bother him at all; they've found the key to him by the looks.

13/8

1st

17

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Mondo Man

10st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Classy on the Flat; some warm tasks switched to hurdles last year, performing with credit more often than not; held up when fourth of 13 on handicap hurdle debut at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) in December in a race that favoured those ridden prominently; has since easily justified 1-7 odds in Plumpton maiden (2m, soft); retains potential off this mark in view of Flat ability.

11/4

Form: 1312-4

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Made debut last April and showed strong 1m4f handicap form last July/October (good/good to soft); respectable fourth on reappearance at Kempton (1m3f, AW) in March and this 4yo could still have more to offer, but a leap of improvement is needed if he's to make an impact today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(8)

21st Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Mount Atlas

9st 5lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Close Listed third here (1m6f, good) on penultimate start and got up close home in a slowly run Group 3 over that same C&D (good to firm) on latest; he's never ventured beyond that and it's questionable whether it will suit; also needs a bit more improvement but he's regularly proved capable of that.

15/2

1st

4

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Mount Atlas

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

5yo who is an improved performer this season and registered career-best form when a close third in C&D Listed race last time, a neck behind Tabletalk; should be bang there once again.

13/8

Form: 1/1116

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
After a stint over jumps he reverted to the Flat for a new yard in January and won three AW handicaps in a row (1m6f/2m); needs a career best if he's to win today, however, and he was below par at Newcastle last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(10)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Roaring Legend

9st 12lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Olly Murphy

Fourth in this race last year off the same mark; fine efforts when runner-up in February on first two starts (2m, AW) since rejoining this yard, but reportedly made a respiratory noise next time and, following his third wind operation, he was a soundly beaten outsider in Listed race four weeks ago; others seem more solid.

40/1

5th

5

(4)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Roaring Legend

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Olly Murphy

Fine efforts when runner-up in 2m AW handicaps in February on first two starts since rejoining this yard; reportedly made a respiratory noise at Musselburgh in April and he's had a third wind operation since; however, even if returning to form, a career-best if needed from this 6yo today.

25/1

6th

4

(4)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Roaring Legend

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Olly Murphy

A poor show last May prompted a second wind operation and it was a solid campaign otherwise; never better than when second this February in 2m AW handicaps at Wolverhampton and Lingfield, but peak turf form isn't far behind it and he'll probably be on the premises.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.60
Straight Forecast £9.73
Trifecta £14.40

Selections

POSTDATA:

Absurde

SPOTLIGHT:

Illinois

The Times:

Mount Atlas

TOPSPEED:

Al Qareem

RP RATINGS:

Illinois

Telegraph:

Illinois

Daily Mail:

Illinois

D Express:

Illinois

The Guardian:

Absurde

Daily Mirror:

Absurde

The Sun:

Absurde

The Star:

Absurde

Daily Record:

Absurde