Chester’s final Boodles May Festival card on Friday, 8 May 2026 is built around the Ladbrokes Chester Cup, with the Group 2 Deepbridge Huxley Stakes and the Chester Plate giving the meeting depth across an eight-race programme on good ground.
While after the dramas on Thursday regarding the ground and the Chester races being delayed for over an hour – track officials and racing fans will be hoping for a clear run on Friday.
Chester Cup Day – Key Facts and Race Details
- Chester stages eight races on Friday, 8 May 2026 from 1.30pm to 5.20pm
- Going was listed as good by Racing Post, with watering and cloudy conditions noted on the morning card
- Ladbrokes Chester Cup is scheduled for 3.05pm over 2m2f140y
- Deepbridge Huxley Stakes is a nine-runner Group 2 at 2.35pm over 1m2f70y
- Chester Plate at 4.10pm gives the card a second major staying handicap over the Cup trip
Chester Cup Day Sees Eight-Race Roodee Card
Chester Cup day brings the meeting to its most recognisable stage, with Racing Post listing Friday’s card from 1.30pm to 5.20pm and describing the track as good after watering.
Racing TV’s at-a-glance card also shows an eight-race Chester programme, with the Cup set for 3.05pm and the supporting Chester Plate at 4.10pm.
With five of the Chester races on Friday also being shown LIVE on the ITV Racing schedule.
See Andy Newton’s ITV Racing tips at Chester on Friday
Chester Cup Day Race Schedule, Going TV and Times
GOING GOOD, Good to soft in places (GoingStick: 7.2)
- 1:30 – CAA Stellar Great Cheshire Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 1m2½f ITV4
- 2:05 – Boodles Darley EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB/GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (3yo) 1m4½f ITV4
- 2:35 – Deepbridge Huxley Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m2½f ITV4
- 3:05 – Ladbrokes Chester Cup (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m2½f ITV4
- 3:40 – Tom Jones Live At Chester Racecourse Handicap Cl4 (4yo+ 0-80) 6f ITV4
- 4:10 – Ladbrokes Get A Free Race Bet Today Chester Plate Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m2½f SKY
- 4:45 – Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap Cl3 (3yo 0-90) 5f SKY
- 5:20 – Chester Roman Day On 30th May Apprentice Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl4 (4yo+ 0-80) 1m4½f SKY
Chester Cup Heads the Afternoon
The Ladbrokes Chester Cup remains the focal point of the card.
The At The Races card showed 17 (1 non-runner) declared for the staying handicap over 2m2f140y.
Among the prominent names as confirmed runners list are Galileo Dame for Joseph O’Brien and Ryan Moore, Blindedbythelights for Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris, and Puturhandstogether for Billy Loughnane from stall 17.
Berkshire Sundance, chasing a hat-trick for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy, is also among the leading contenders, while Aimeric was set to carry top weight.
The Chester Cup trends tell us 14 of the last 23 winners came from stalls 7 or lower.
WATCH: East India Dock Winning The 2025 Chester Cup
Huxley Stakes Gives The Card Group 2 Strength
Before the Cup, the Deepbridge Huxley Stakes offers the programme its top-level quality.
A nine-runner field for the Group 2 over 1m2f70y, headed by 2025 Epsom Derby winner Lambourn for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
Plus include Bay City Roller for George Scott and Oisin Murphy, and King’s Gambit for Harry Charlton and James Doyle.
Royal Rhyme and Starford add further depth to a race that should provide one of the day’s clearest pattern-race signals.
Lambourn also won at the meeting last season – landing the Chester Vase (watch below).
Staying and Developing Talent Across the Supporting Races
The 2.05pm Boodles Darley EBF Maiden Stakes gives the meeting an important three-year-old examination over 1m4f63y.
Joulany, Galiyan and Glory Of The Seas are among the names on the card, with Chester’s turning layout at Britian’s oldest racecourse often giving this race added tactical interest.
The staying theme returns in the 4.10pm Chester Plate, which Racing TV lists as another 2m2f140y handicap and one of the card’s major support races.
Around those features, the meeting begins with the Great Cheshire Handicap at 1.30pm and closes with the 5.20pm apprentice handicap, giving Friday’s card a full spread of established handicappers, developing middle-distance horses and high-value staying contests.
