It’s the second day of Chester’s Boodles May Festival and I’m delighted to be taking part having spent Wednesday riding in France. It’s Ladies Day on the Roodee and my wife Vicky will be coming up with me for the next couple of days. There is such a fun atmosphere on the track and if you have never been, I urge you to give it a go as it’s unlike any racecourse in the world.

As for the action on the track, I’ve no ride in the opening Gateley PLC Handicap (1.50pm) over five furlongs. Course specialist El Astronaute won at this meeting 12 months ago and will have to be better than ever to defy this higher mark and poor draw.

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I’ll also be watching the Homeserve Dee Stakes (2.25pm) from the weighing room, but it looks like a really good renewal. Aidan O’Brien saddles both Kenya and Rostropovich, while in-form Charlie Appleby relies on Rastrelli. However, the value choice could well be My Lord And Master who ran really well at Epsom last month and looks on the upgrade.

My first ride of the day is Another Batt for George Scott in the Abbey Logistics Handicap (3.00pm). He gave me a lovely feel when third in the Free Handicap at Newmarket last time and I’m hoping he can go well here despite having top weight. We’ve got a nice draw in stall two, so I’ll be hoping to make that count, but I don’t want the ground to dry out too much.

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There are only the six runners in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes (3.35pm) where I ride Elidor for Mick Channon. He’s a lovely old horse and I will take heart from the fact he ran well here on his only previous run at the track when third in this two years ago. This looks a bit more competitive though, with the likes of Idaho and Muntahaa looking the obvious big dangers.

With the Channon yard in such fine form, I expect Arcadian Rocks may take plenty of catching in the maiden (4.05pm) from stall one. Although it does look a particularly competitive renewal.

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My penultimate ride of the day is Metatrons Cube for Charlie Hills in the English Fine Cottons Handicap (4.35pm). He is still yet to win a race but ran really well on his comeback a few weeks ago when third at Lingfield. The step up in trip seemed to help him that day and he goes even further again here. Once again, we’ve bagged a nice low draw and I’m hoping he can surprise some of the more obvious ones on paper.

Finally, I end the day aboard Berrahri for John Best in the Partner Tech Handicap (5.05pm). He is a seven-year-old and I’m not sure there is a horse running at Chester all week with more races under his belt. This will be his 71st start under rules and he is looking for his 11th career victory. Whether he can pull that off in a race as good as this remains to be seen, although he is 1lb lower in the handicap than when winning here last July.

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