The racing begins at 1.30pm with an eight-runner five furlong handicap.
The royal entry Kings Lynn is bound to be a popular choice for punters but the outside draw and a disappointing first run of the season at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting is a worry. Others to consider are Look Out Louis who is a previous course and distance winner and Lihou who was an impressive winner at Epsom in April.
In the Handicap, Vetiver comes here in good form after winning with plenty in hand at Beverley last month. Theoryofeverything ran in the Group Three Greenham Stakes last time out and is a very interesting runner switching to handicap company.
The Dee Stakes could once more provide clues for the Derby. Local Dynasty has won three out of his four starts including taking a listed event at Pontefract in October.
Alder represents Irish trainer Donnacha O’Brien and he opened his account second time up at Killarney last year and picked up from where he left off seven months prior to double his tally at Cork just under three weeks ago; he must be on the shortlist. Passenger ran on well to take a hotly contested maiden at Newmarket last time out and will be hard to discount for the Sir Michael Stoute stable.
The Group Three Ormonde Stakes has attracted a quality field of eight runners. Hamish took this prize in 2022 and will be heavily supported to repeat last year’s success.
Changingoftheguard was successful at this meeting last year taking the Chester Vase and then finishing fifth in the Epsom showpiece. He was last seen winning a Group Two event at Royal Ascot last June. Enemy is another interesting runner who won a valuable prize at Meydan in January.
The biggest field of the day goes to post in the Handicap at 3.45pm.
Tudor ended 2022 with back-to-back Lingfield wins and is on the shortlist being back on turf today. Sucellus is the local runner for the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero stable. The seven year old can be unreliable but if on form could make the frame. Others to consider include Dashing Roger at a big price and City Streak who is a consistent sort.
Big Time Rascal and Hackman will be a popular choice in the Maiden Stakes over five furlongs where a number of the starting lineup are having their first run.
The day ends with a competitive mile and a half handicap for three year olds. Sovereign Spirit scored at Lingfield last time out on the all weather and should go well if liking the twists and turns of the Roodee.
Ziggy’s Phoenix was away well and made every yard of the running to lead home a Middleham Park Racing one-two in the Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes at Chester in the first race of the May Festival.
The Richard Hannon-trained filly won from the front at Ripon when breaking her duck on her second start and it was a similar story sent off the 9-4 favourite on the Roodee.
Jockey Ryan Moore completed a quickfire double, romping home in the Cheshire Oaks on board Savethelastdance while Frankie Dettori made his final ride at Chester’s May Festival a winning one as Arrest became the new favourite for the Derby with a clear-cut success in the Chester Vase.
Six years ago the Italian guided Enable to Cheshire Oaks victory on this card en route to Epsom, and the Surrey Downs looks the next port of call for John and Thady Gosden’s son of Frankel.