15.15
GoodVirgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed Race)
- Prize money: £33612
- 1m 6f 87y
- Class 1
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
9/4 (Won)
- Win: £3.50
- Place: £1.70
Form: /217-4
Last run: 14 days
W: 9st 8lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 109
| 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 |
11st 12lb |
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 |
11st 2lb |
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 |
11st 13lb |
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 |
5/2
- Place: £1.60
Form: 1-2264 D
Last run: 28 days
W: 9st 3lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 8 (4) |
19th Oct 2024 Soft 1m 7f 127y Class 1 |
9st 6lb |
Ended 2023 with French 1m6f Group 3 win from the front (very soft); raised her game again this season upped to 2m (held up) in Group 3s on first two outings, beaten a head by Sweet William on second occasion (soft); however, she's not lived up to those performances, usually racing too freely. |
66/1 |
|
2nd 8 (3) |
31st Aug 2024 Good 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Ended last term with a 1m6f French Group 3 win from the front and raised her game again this season when upped to 2m (held up) in Group 3s on first two outings; raced far too freely in the 2m4f Ascot Gold Cup and disappointed when she again raced freely and reverted to front-running at Goodwood four weeks ago; the one to beat judged on initial form this term and James Doyle riding her for the first time is interesting. |
5/2 |
|
4th 1 (4) |
3rd Aug 2024 Good To Firm 1m 6f 0y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Won at this meeting in 2022; ended last term with a 1m6f French Group 3 win from the front and better form again this season when upped to 2m and beaten a head in Group 3s at Ascot and Sandown; raced far too freely in the 2m4f Ascot Gold Cup on latest outing but looks a major player today. |
11/4 |
4/1
Form: 1212 BF
Last run: 10 days
W: 9st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 7 |
28th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 3m 0f 0y |
11st 0lb |
Smart stayer on the Flat and nice Flat return at Killarney after 13 months off; pick of hurdles form would give him a chance, but hasn't run in this code since being beaten 8l off mark of 131 at last year's Punchestown festival; stays well on the level and might yet improve for going 3m (second try at it). |
11/2 |
|
4th 3 (7) |
21st Aug 2026 Good 2m 0f 180y |
11st 7lb |
Smart dual-purpose sort; well suited by the race conditions; twice ran well in defeat at Royal Ascot last summer, third in the Copper Horse Handicap (1m6f, good to firm) and second in the Queen Alexandra (2m5f, good to firm); not seen since a fine second in a 1m6f Group 3 at York 13 months ago; good opportunity for Hannah Smullen if he returns in prime shape. |
4/5 |
|
2nd 4 (6) |
12th Jul 2025 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 0lb |
Twice ran well in defeat at Royal Ascot last month, finishing third in the Copper Horse Handicap (1m6f, good to firm) and second in the Queen Alexandra (2m5f, good to firm; albeit no match for the winner); could give a good account but needs others to underperform if he's to come out on top. |
6/1 |
12/1
Form: 126120 D
Last run: 7 days
W: 9st 8lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 101
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 (2) |
28th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 179y |
12st 2lb |
Off the mark over hurdles at Ballinrobe in May on second start for this yard at Ballinrobe; useful five-time Flat winner for Andrew Balding; could make no impression when returning to Britain for the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot; no match for a Willie Mullins-trained favourite in a novice hurdle at Roscommon three weeks ago. |
25/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
7th Jul 2025 Good 1m 7f 204y |
11st 8lb |
Off the mark over hurdles on second start for this yard at Ballinrobe (16.5f, good) in May; smart form on the Flat for Andrew Balding but came up short back on the level in a hot Royal Ascot handicap three weeks ago; top-rated here at 128; obvious chance on ground that will suit. |
15/8 |
|
4 (19) |
17th Jun 2025 Good 1m 6f 34y Class 2 |
9st 9lb |
Progressive for Andrew Balding last year, winning two handicaps (1m4f/1m6f, AW/good); went over hurdles last month for his new yard and won a maiden at Ballinrobe three weeks ago; could go well now back on the Flat. |
16/1 |
16/1
Form: /U116- CD
Last run: 300 days
W: 9st 8lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 106
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 7 |
1st Nov 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 190y |
10st 13lb |
Dual-purpose veteran has won 11 of his 39 starts under Rules but he's shown virtually nothing since a Listed Chester win on the Flat in September 2023; needs a revival. |
40/1 |
|
8th 7 |
1st Nov 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 190y |
10st 13lb |
Dual-purpose veteran has won 11 of his 39 starts under Rules but he's shown virtually nothing since a Listed Chester win on the Flat in September 2023; needs a revival. |
40/1 |
20/1
Form: 127586 D
Last run: 29 days
W: 9st 8lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
23 (19) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 5f 188y Class 2 |
8st 11lb
|
Reserve; won 1m4f/2m handicaps on the AW early this year but his strike-rate on turf is only 3-39 (last win in January 2023); close third at Ascot (second-time cheekpieces) two weeks ago was his best turf result for ages but he's been 14th, 16th and 20th when outsider in his three previous Ebors. |
50/1 |
|
3rd 5 (5) |
8th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 1m 3f 211y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
Won 1m4f/2m handicaps on the AW early this year; only 3-38 on turf but quite encouraging runs in hot 1m3f/1m6f handicaps before finishing tailed off at Newmarket after starting slowly (1m4f); it wouldn't be a bolt from the blue should he run well but others are safer. |
25/1 |
|
12th 6 (9) |
4th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 4f 0y Class 2 |
9st 6lb |
Won 1m4f/2m handicaps on the AW early this year; beaten just over 7l in hot handicaps at Carlisle (1m3f) and Royal Ascot (1m6f) on last two outings, shaping much better than ninth of 16 suggests in the latter (big move to dispute lead early in straight) but his turf strike-rate is 3-37. |
33/1 |
6/1
Form: 103-25 D BF
Last run: 77 days
W: 9st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
21th 20 (10) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 5f 188y Class 2 |
8st 12lb |
Rarely seen on softer than good but it used to be okay (2023); made the frame only once (Saudi Arabia in February) from seven starts this year; admittedly hampered at Newmarket six weeks ago on latest outing, a race in which he ran well last term before finishing fifth in this; 7lb lower than 12 months ago and has a place squeak but there's been no win for over three years. |
33/1 |
|
7th 3 (5) |
10th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 6f 0y Class 2 |
9st 6lb |
Third in this race last year off 3lb higher; competitive only once (Saudi Arabia in February) from six starts this year and there's been no win for very nearly three years, so he's far from being the percentage call. |
50/1 |
|
13th 6 (1) |
16th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 1m 6f 34y Class 2 |
9st 11lb |
Close up in a Saudi Arabian 1m7f handicap in February (latest run in a tongue-tie that now returns) but that form is none too persuasive in a race of this nature and he's hardly hit the ground running back in Britain; only eighth in this last year off 2lb higher; one for the optimists. |
22/1 |
Non-runners
Rajinsky
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £9.00 |
| Straight Forecast | £7.17 |
| Trifecta | £28.10 |
Selections
Telegraph:
Real DreamTOPSPEED:
Caius ChoristerPOSTDATA:
Caius ChoristerThe Guardian:
Caius ChoristerDaily Mirror:
Absurde