At The Races

Chester Course Guide

Considered to be the oldest racing venue in England; racing around Chester’s tight ‘Roodee’ track has taken place since 1539 and some 500 years on the track itself has changed very little – the city walls and banks of the River Dee shaping two thirds of the circuit.

The sharp nature of the course means that it races exclusively on the Flat and Chester’s May Festival is now considered to be one of the highlights of the Flat racing year. Highlight of the three-day Festival is the historic Chester Cup, a two and a quarter mile handicap, but the fixture also boasts Classic trials in the shape of the Chester Vase, Dee Stakes and Cheshire Oaks, plus valuable races for older horses in the Huxley Stakes and Ormonde Stakes.

Among the top-class horses to have been successful at the course’s May Festival are Enable, Light Shift, Noble Mission, Shergar, Old Vic, Ruler Of The World, Teenoso, Harbinger, St Nicholas Abbey, Pentire, Oath and Kris Kin.

Advance Going
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Current Weather today at: Chester

Today
Rain

Forecast: Rain
Temp: 7.3° - 11.0°
Rainfall: 6.04mm
Wind: 22.8 mph NW

Tomorrow
Rain

Forecast: Rain
Temp: 9.0° - 15.2°
Rainfall: 8.63mm
Wind: 19.0 mph W

Last Update: 23/10/2026 07:00

Left handed, very sharp. A circular course that's only just over a mile round, it's on the turn almost throughout and has a run-in of under two furlongs, heavily favoring those that race to the fore as it's easy to find trouble with little time to recover. A low draw at Chester is a huge advantage, even in middle-distance races, and particularly so in large fields.


At Chester, for most of any race, your horse will be leading with its near-fore, the one closer to the inside rail. And you have only two chances to change that: in the short home straight, or after the winning post in contests longer than a full circuit. You need to maximise those if you want to make ground or get a breather into one, because it’s not natural for a horse to lead on its near-fore all the way. It can pay to be brave in sprints. The straight may be short, but there’s still time to ride a finish.

View from the saddle: Jason Weaver

Replays & Results

14:00 Vault Money EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes

GBB Race

6f | Class 4 | 2YO only | 8 ran
  • Winner: Rhodes Runner 5/1
  • Jockey: Jason Watson Trainer: R M Beckett
  • Owner: Nick Bradley Racing 28

14:35 John Smith's Nursery

7f | Class 5 | 2YO only | 11 ran
  • Winner: Crazy Cubana 16/1
  • Jockey: Ashley Lewis Trainer: E Walker
  • Owner: West Paces Racing Uk 2024 Llc

15:10 Destination2 Selling Stakes

1m 2½f | Class 4 | 3YO plus | 9 ran
  • Winner: Patagonia Girl 2/1 Fav
  • Jockey: Jason Watson Trainer: H Palmer
  • Owner: Mr D R Passant & Mr E Spragg

15:46 Kidsbank Chester Handicap

6f | Class 4 | 3YO plus | 10 ran
  • Winner: Miraculous 11/4 Fav
  • Jockey: Sean Kirrane Trainer: T D Easterby
  • Owner: Ambrose Turnbull & John Cruces

16:17 Halliwell Jones Handicap

5f | Class 4 | 3YO plus | 11 ran
  • Winner: Copper Knight 9/4 Fav
  • Jockey: Sean Kirrane Trainer: T D Easterby
  • Owner: Ventura Racing (copper) & Partner

16:52 Style Joinery Handicap

7f | Class 4 | 3YO plus | 8 ran
  • Winner: Andesite 11/2
  • Jockey: Darragh Keenan Trainer: Roger Fell
  • Owner: Swales & Fell

17:25 Lord Mayor's Spooktacular Fireworks Apprentice Handicap

1m 6½f | Class 5 | 3YO plus | 10 ran
  • Winner: Carthusian 9/1
  • Jockey: Liam Wright Trainer: J Candlish
  • Owner: The Carthusians
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Address & Contact

Chester Race Company
The Racecourse
Chester
CH1 2LY
01244 304 600

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