14.40
Good To SoftVirgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed Race)
- Prize money: £34026
- 1m 6f 87y
- Class 1
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
11/1 (Won)
- Win: £17.00
- Place: £3.10
Form: -69447
Last run: 21 days
W: 9st 8lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 102
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 5 (2) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 8lb |
Won Group 3 at Saint-Cloud (10.5f, good) last May; respectable efforts at Listed/Group 3 level for current yard this summer but will need to pull out more for the longer trip if he's to resume winning ways. |
11/1 |
|
7th 6 (7) |
1st Aug 2026 Good To Firm 1m 3f 218y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Ex-French 4yo who won Group 3 at Saint-Cloud (10.5f, good) last May; respectable Listed efforts on last two starts (including C&D) but hasn't shown enough on those outings to suggest he'll be making an impact today. |
33/1 |
9/4
- Place: £1.30
Form: 1-3362
Last run: 49 days
W: 9st 8lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 109
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 (4) |
3rd Oct 2026 Good 1m 3f 211y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
Did well at Meydan last winter (twice a Group 3 third); couldn't match Al Aasy when returning at Beverley (1m4f, good to firm) in July, and although going down by a neck at Chester (1m6f, good to soft) in another Listed race six weeks ago was more like his peak form, it's possible that a bit further than this is now ideal for him. |
4/1 |
|
2nd 2 (7) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 8lb |
Low-mileage 5yo who progressed into a really smart performer at up to 1m6f at Meydan over the winter and made a sound return to Britain when chasing home Al Aasy in a Beverley Listed race (1m4f, good to firm) seven weeks ago; going on the soft side of good would be an unknown but he holds good form claims. |
9/4 |
|
2nd 3 (2) |
4th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 4f 23y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Low-mileage 5yo who made it 3-4 when winning a 1m4f handicap at Meydan in December; posted a good third in Group 3 there in January but last of six in Group 1 there (1m4f) in March; yard has an excellent record in this so he's a likely player after a break. |
9/4 |
40/1
- Place: £4.10
Form: 12166/ D BF
Last run: 700 days
W: 9st 8lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 88
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 6 (1) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 8lb |
Progressed into a useful staying handicapper in the second half of 2024; gelded ahead of this belated return; has plenty to find on form and might be using this as a prep ahead of a return to handicap company (entered in Cesarewitch). |
40/1 |
|
6th 10 (9) |
21st Sep 2024 Good 2m 2f 0y Class 2 |
8st 6lb |
in rear on outer, in touch with leaders after 8f |
6/4 |
|
6th 8 (8) |
24th Aug 2024 Good To Firm 1m 5f 188y Class 2 |
8st 13lb |
Won maiden at Goodwood in June, went close at Ascot (again 1m6f) next time and got up in the final strides for another Ascot handicap (2m) on latest outing, all on good; up another 5lb and drops back in trip, which may not suit, but he is firmly on an upward curve; trainer won two recent Melroses. |
7/1 |
13/2
Form: 72-542 C
Last run: 50 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Filly
OR: 99
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 7 (4) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Her previous course visit resulted in a handicap win over the extended 1m4f on good ground (acts on good to soft) at the 2025 May meeting; campaigned at Group/Listed level since, running her best race when 2.75l second of four to Lazy Griff at Sandown (2m, good) last month; 3lb better off with Charlie Johnston's charge this time; Ralph Beckett has won this three times since 2021. |
13/2 |
|
2nd 5 (2) |
3rd Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
8st 11lb |
4yo filly whose two wins came last spring in a Southwell maiden (1m4f, AW) and Chester handicap (1m4f, good); struggled on soft ground in a 1m6f Listed race at Musselburgh this April and although she ran well when Listed fourth over 1m3f at Baden-Baden (good to soft) four weeks ago, she faded and didn't look to be crying out for this far; has a bit to find. |
14/1 |
|
5th 6 (3) |
4th Apr 2026 Good 1m 5f 216y Class 1 |
8st 11lb |
Maiden and front-running handicap winner last spring, who found her one Group and two Listed assignments much harder afterwards but those were her best form; all those were at about 1m4f but her second from off the pace at Toulouse on final outing gave hope for this longer trip; improvement needed. |
12/1 |
16/1
Form: 3244-5 D
Last run: 21 days
W: 9st 3lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 93
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 (5) |
24th Sep 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 0lb |
Progressive in handicaps last season, a campaign that concluded with a respectable fourth of 13 in a Listed race at Bath; however, merely fifth in Listed races last month on her two outings this year; others preferred. |
20/1 |
|
5th 8 (6) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Reliable type whose wins have come in 1m2f and 1m6f handicaps; good fourth in this race 12 months ago and showed she retains her ability when fifth in another Listed event at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) on her reappearance three weeks ago. |
16/1 |
|
5th 3 (3) |
1st Aug 2026 Good To Firm 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Reliable type whose wins have come in 1m2f and 1m6f handicaps; good fourth on her only attempts at Listed company but she'll need a personal best if she's to make a winning reappearance after ten months off. |
25/1 |
20/1
Form: 0-6304
Last run: 35 days
W: 9st 8lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 3 (8) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 8lb |
Fine third from the front in the Chester Cup (2m2f, good) on his first start for Richard Hughes; proved way too headstrong to give himself a chance of lasting home in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot next time but ridden with restraint and saw things out a lot better when fourth of seven in 2m Newbury handicap (good to firm) since; has a bit to find on the figures back at Listed level. |
20/1 |
|
4th 1 (7) |
18th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 2m 0f 110y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
Only 1-10 for Dermot Weld but was highly tried on occasions; made most from wide draw in major handicaps on both starts for Richard Hughes, reeled in late on when third in the Chester Cup (2m2f, good) but backpedalling before the home straight at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm); big shout if he reverts to the Chester performance. |
16/1 |
|
15th 13 (17) |
16th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 1m 6f 34y Class 2 |
9st 9lb |
Only 1-10 for Dermot Weld but was highly tried on occasions; made his debut for Richard Hughes in the Chester Cup (2m2f, good) and, having broken well from his wide draw, he put up a bold show from the front only to be reeled in late in the day; a 2lb nudge is easy to stomach and dropping back to 1m6f could work given the cruising speed he showed at Chester. |
14/1 |
6/1
Form: 11531- D
Last run: 323 days
W: 9st 8lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 103
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 4 (5) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 8lb |
Sold for 600,000gns after winning a 1m6f Ascot Listed race (good to soft) for Andrew Balding last autumn; didn't make the expected impact over hurdles for Nicky Henderson earlier this year (pulled up in Triumph at Cheltenham when last seen) but resumes his Flat career back with a yard which is in tremendous form. |
6/1 |
7/4
Form: 23-317
Last run: 25 days
W: 9st 11lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 (3) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 11lb |
Chased home Lambourn in last year's Chester Vase and Derby (also third to him in the Irish Derby); missed the second half of last season but showed he's still as good as ever when defeating the reopposing Lady Vivian in 2m Sandown Listed race (good) last month; raced freely and weakened quickly in the Goodwood Cup with cheekpieces added (quickly discarded) but he can bounce back with his sights lowered today. |
7/4 |
|
7th 4 (3) |
28th Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 12lb |
Second last term in the Derby and third in the Irish Derby; not seen afterwards as a 3yo but 2m races at Sandown this season have seen his promise renewed for serious stamina tests; it was just a four-runner Listed race last time when he dominated from the front at 4-7, so he needs much better today, but cheekpieces are enlisted and he's a fascinating newcomer to a top staying race. |
12/1 |
|
1st 3 (1) |
3rd Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Runner-up in the Derby at Epsom last June and kept on well for third in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (also 1m4f on good) next time; showed he retains plenty of ability when a 2l third in C&D Group 3 in May (ahead of three of today's rivals), leaving the impression a stronger gallop would have suited; should come on for that first start in 11 months and looks the one to beat. |
4/7 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £51.10 |
| Straight Forecast | £48.57 |
| Trifecta | £434.60 |