Jason Heavey’s ITV4 recommendations on Day 2 of Chester’s May Festival assembly
The Daily Star’s Chief Tipster Jason Heavey believes last year’s winner of the Ormonde Stakes can repeat the feat in front of the ITV4 cameras at Chester on Wednesday
ILLINOIS (3.05, trb) can bounce back to form in the Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes on day two of the Boodles May Festival at Chester.
Aidan O’Brien’s stayer goes down the same route as 12 months ago, when scoring in this race on his season reappearance.
The son of Galileo ended last term with a lack-lustre effort in the Irish St Leger, but had previously run well to finish second in the Ascot Gold Cup to Trawlerman, before filling the same berth in the Goodwood Cup behind stablemate Scandanavia.
Ryan Moore has opted to ride another stablemate, Jan Breughel – winner of the St Leger in 2024 and the Coronation Cup last term – but this tight track seems to suit him well.
The O’Brien/Moore combo should add to their tally in the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes with CONSTITUTION RIVER (2.35).
He was chinned by 2,000 Guineas third Distant Storm on his debut at Newmarket last term, before wins at Galway and in the Curragh’s Group Two Futurity Stakes.
Earlier, CANON’S HOUSE (1.30) looks on a good mark following a decent run at Beverley, when just failing to catch Copper Knight by a head, and is a good price.
DONEGAL ROSE (2.05) was unlucky in running but still showed plenty of promise when fifth at Leicester on her debut 12 days ago and has the addition of Oisin Murphy in the saddle in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.
Trainer and jockey of the moment George Boughey and Billy Loughnane combine again with another great chance of success with MCMURRAY (3.40, nb) in the Xenon Workplace Handicap over an extended seven furlongs.
The son of Mehmas ran up a hat-trick of wins at the end of his juvenile campaign and the form has been backed up since, with Crest Of Fire, who he beat in two of those races, trotting up by 10 lengths at Southwell in March.
The ITV4 cameras are also at Huntingdon for the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase, which Fergal O’Brien can capture with BIG BOY BARNEY (1.45).
Jason Heavey’s Thursday tips CHESTER 1.30 Canon’s House 2.05 Donegal Rose 2.35 Constitution River 3.05 Illinois (trb) 3.40 McMurray (nb) 4.10 Galyx 4.45 Be The Standard
HUNTINGDON 1.15 Katarcice 1.45 Big Boy Barney 2.15 Another Day Out 2.45 Notnowlinda 3.15 Greedy Smith 3.50 St Zoe
WINDSOR 2.25 Hello Luna 2.55 Swiped 3.27 The Hare Rail 4.00 Moon Over The Sea 4.35 Happy Chandler 5.10 Margorie
REDCAR 4.40 Song Of The Clouds 5.15 Canaria Sun 5.50 Emerald Army 6.20 Kitsune Power 6.50 Looks Fantastic (Nap) 7.20 Two B Tanned 7.50 Mohmentous 8.20 Long Shot
SOUTHWELL 6.00 Dreamlover 6.30 Avatar Jet 7.00 Popty Ping 7.30 Reputation 8.00 Shades Of May 8.30 Jumeirah Sands 9.00 Hickton
