Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: Chester May Festival 2026 Friday Best Bets
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews the ITV action from day three of the Chester May Festival.
Friday, Chester
I think there’s a bit of mileage on Triple Double A at a big price in the first (1.30pm). He’s quite well drawn, no weight, made a reasonable comeback at Newbury and I think that should have put him spot on for this. He’s only 3lbs higher now than his last win earlier in the year on the all-weather and it’s going to be hard for the widely drawn horses to get in. I don’t think he’d want a load of rain but if there was a bit that fell, I don’t think it would be too much of a problem, clearly the stable is going well.
Galiyan is the pick in the 2.05pm, and a reasonably confident one as well. I was super impressed with this horse, physically, before his debut at Newmarket and he impressed through the race as well. He was never really asked a very serious question behind talented horses; he just stayed on really nicely. I’d liked the way he ran straight and hard to the line, that should have brought him on a tonne. There were a number of easier options, he could have run before that Newmarket race but the fact they chose to run him there and educate him a little bit more, suggests to me that it’s a decently long-term project. I wondered whether something like the Melrose might be in the connections’ mind, but if he improves faster, he might work his way out of something like that. I’d be disappointed if he couldn’t make an impact here.
It might be sacrilege try and oppose Ryan Moore and Aiden O’Brien in a group race around Chester, but I’m going to give it a go in the Huxley Stakes (2.35pm). I’m going to take them on with Bay City Roller, who was my William Hill ‘horse-to-follow’ earlier in the season, which is not massively imaginative given the way he finished last season winning a Group 1 in Germany. I think that performance was slightly underestimated because it was in very deep ground, and he didn’t half bolt-up and I think any horse that can do that is worthy of maximum respect.
I know he’s penalised here, but I believe he’s a genuine Group 1 horse. The little bit of rain that’s fallen won’t hurt his chances at all, I think the connections have been biding their time, waiting for the right opportunity, and if there’s any time to take on Ballydoyle at Chester its when they’ve got Lambourn to represent them and their up against some genuine top-flight performers like this guy.
Chemistry is my pick in the Chester Cup (3.05pm). I thought he showed significant evidence of his well-being when winning a race over hurdles at Sedgefield last time out. This stable has got quite a knack of improving horses from other yards, and it think they’ve done the same thing again. If that’s the case, there’s quite a strong argument to suggest that there are three or four pieces of form that are making him look quite well handicapped.
If you ally that to the fact that he could yet again improve from the switch of stables, and the fact that he’s well drawn, won’t mind the conditions and will definitely stay. Then he makes a lot of appeal each-way at double figure odds.
The last ITV race at Chester (3.40pm) can go the way of Minella Scouse. Again, he’s well drawn which is critical around here, but more importantly he’s well handicapped, doesn’t mind that it’s his first time out. Jockey bookings inclusive, I don’t think Duran Fentiman is a negative and the ground should be ideal. He’s better when raced over 6f and the yard has got a good record in races like this, and at the current prices he makes a lot of appeal.
