Chester

Swordlestown Little's Mariann Klay, who along with her husband Des Leadon bred the impressive G3 Chester Vase winner and new Derby favourite Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), says that soft ground will be key to the Juddmonte colt's Epsom challenge.  Arrest, trained by John and Thady Gosden, shot to the head of the Derby market after sluicing up in his favoured testing ground at Chester on Wednesday.  That prompted bookmakers to propel Arrest to Derby favouritism at odds of 6-1, usurping 2,000 Guineas disappointment Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Klay...

Chester regular Marwan Koukash has been removed as a registered owner by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) due to being declared bankrupt, according to published reports. The 69-year-old Palestinian won the Chester Cup four times with his runners between 2008 and 2018. His record at the track stands at 97 winners. Holding a PhD in electrical engineering, the businessman owned the Salford City Reds rugby team at one time, as well as a string of hotels among his various interests. The bankruptcy petition was filed in June of 2022 and...

Chester's unique "Roodeye" course swings back into action on Wednesday, with the often-informative three-day May Festival kicking off with the G3 Boodles Chester Vase and Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks starting the raft of English trials for the Derby and Oaks. With the Epsom picture clouded by the outcome of the 2000 Guineas and no obvious candidate emerging from the 1000 Guineas, we are officially into the informative period and the silly season at the same time with the next fortnight set to witness the usual violent fluctuations of...

Saturday's card at Chester was abandoned after four races due to safety concerns entering the final bend. Humanitarian (Noble Mission {GB}), with Luke Cotton aboard, slipped on that turn during the meet's fourth race, the ICM Stellar Sport H. An inspection with course officials and jockeys was subsequently conducted, and the meeting was called due to unsafe ground. Chester joins Haydock and Beverley as the third track that was abandoned mid-card in the UK in the past four days, with those courses cancelling on Friday and Wednesday, respectively. Clerk of...

Aptly-named Aidan O'Brien trainee Thoughts of June (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finished behind Above The Curve (American Pharoah) tackling one mile at Leopardstown in her juvenile season closer last October and again when that reopposing rival attained TDN Rising Star status over the same course and distance last month. Sent postward at odds of 7-1 for Wednesday's Listed Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Cheshire Oaks at Chester, she gained some measure of revenge to shed maiden status in game fashion. Thoughts of June was quickly into stride and led passing the judge first...

In the year of Appleby vs O'Brien, Chester's Roodeye is an apt setting for the latest gladiatorial encounter between racing's two superpowers with the G3 Boodles Chester Vase seeing another stand-off between Moulton Paddocks and Rosegreen. While the extended 12-furlong Derby trial is small potatoes in comparison with the epic clashes in the Classics and Royal Ascot, how Godolphin's exciting New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) deals with Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will either continue or change the current conversation. The former, who hails from the family of Masked Marvel (GB)...

British fine jeweler Boodles will sponsor the G3 Chester Vase, which is set to take place on May 4. Boodles has been the title sponsor of the Boodles May Festival at Chester Racecourse since 2013. Louise Stewart, chief executive at Chester Race Company Ltd, said, "We are very grateful to Boodles, an iconic British brand founded locally in Liverpool, for their continued commitment to Chester Racecourse. The Boodles Chester Vase is a highlight of the Boodles May Festival, and we are hugely looking forward to this year's renewal which will...

Ballydoyle missed out with an unusually low-key representation at the Chester May meeting on Wednesday, but one of their big guns is rolled out on Thursday as Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is relaunched in the G3 Ormonde S. Tackling the extended 13-furlong trip which is the furthest he has gone so far in his career, the 2019 G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero looks to put a disappointing end to his 2020 season behind him. Tailing off following his third placing in the G1 Eclipse at...

Chester's May meeting gets underway on Wednesday, with the G3 Chester Vase and Listed Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks offering the opportunity for Epsom hopefuls to enter the fray at the famous "Roodee". While neither has attracted a standout this year, the Derby and Oaks trials are at times fertile ground for the lesser-exposed types to flaunt their wares such as Godolphin's Wirko (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) in the Vase. Having already proven himself on Epsom's inimitable terrain when winning the Apr. 20 Listed Blue Riband Trial, the Charlie Appleby-trained bay could...

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based non-profit group dedicated to the support of local, regional, and national organizations  promoting education and research to benefit the Thoroughbred, has unveiled a new website at www.terfusa.org. The new website includes 2020 grant application materials. TERF will consider grant applications which focus on Equine Education, Equine Research, Veterinary Medicine Scholarships and the proper care of horses. Applications for grants are due Apr. 1. The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation's mission is to support Thoroughbred health and welfare by funding scholarships, educational programs,...