Horse Racing Tips
Chester May Festival 2026: Big Guns To Strut Their Stuff In Classic Trials
William Hill News tipster Steve Mullington marks your seven-race card on the opening day of the 2026 Chester May Festival.
Wednesday 6th May sees the return of the prestigious May Festival Trials Day, a fixture that sees top owners and trainers showcase their stars of the future.
Chester Tips Day 1:
- 1.30pm – Adonius (NAP)
- 2.05pm – Partisan Hero (E/W)
- 2.40pm – I’m The One
- 3.05pm – Benvenuto Cellini
- 3.40pm – Ruby’s Angel
- 4.10pm – Norman Invasion
- 4.45pm – Pietro (E/W)
Punters can look forward to the running of The Cheshire Oaks, a trial for the Epsom Oaks for fillies and The Chester Vase, one of two trials run at the meeting for the Epsom Derby.
1.30 – 5f Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes
It’s great to see Rebecca Menzies with a top quality Flat horse again, and her youngster ADONIUS (NAP) can storm home from stall one on Wednesday.
The Soldier’s Call gelding has already scored twice around Musselburgh this season, and despite his 5lb penalty can make the most of a plum draw.
2.05 – 7½f Earl Grosvenor Handicap
PARTISAN HERO is a consistent performer in these top level handicaps, including a runner-up finish at the 2025 Chester May meeting and a recent second place in Bahrain.
The globetrotting eight-year-old can make for use of his favourable draw under Rossa Ryan, and at 6/1 in our horse racing betting, looks a solid each-way pick.
2.35 – 1m3½f Cheshire Oaks (Listed Race)
The current Oaks favourite I’M THE ONE bids to build on her impressive Newbury debut in Wednesday’s Cheshire Oaks.
The daughter of Sea The Stars is as short as 5-2 for Classic honours at Epsom after making huge waves at Newbury last month. On paper she should win hooves down.
3.05 – 1m4½f Chester Vase Stakes (Group 3)
BENVENUTO CELLINI (NB) can give Aidan O’Brien another victory in the Chester Vase before going onto greater things in the Epsom Derby.
The son of Frankel won the Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown in September and rounded off his two-year-old campaign by finishing third in the William Hill Futurity Stakes (G1) at Doncaster.
Trading at a shade of odds-on in our sports betting, he’s clearly the one they all have to beat.
3.40 – 6f Handicap
Hugo Palmer invariably has a good Chester May meeting and it’s interesting that he has booked Tom Marquand to ride RUBY’S ANGEL in this six furlong sprint.
The filly won a decent nursery handicap at York last season, so will certainly know her job here.
4.10 – 1m2½f Maiden Stakes
Costing €480,000, NORMAN INVASION can get this season off to a flyer with a victory on the Roodee.
His debut run at Ascot last term was highly encouraging and Ed Walker is sure to have him in tip-top shape today.
4.45 – Roodee Handicap
The James Fanshawe-trained PIETRO has run some nice races at premier racecourses such as Haydock and York, so should find Chester to his liking too.
The four-year-old is already a four-time winner and gets in here carrying next to no weight. He therefore gets the each-way nod from me.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
