Chester Racecourse
Performances of the Season 2025
This Saturday marks the end of the 2025 Racing season on the Roodee at Chester. To celebrate another fantastic season at the track, we have put together a list of some of our favourite performances at the course from the 2025 campaign.
Lambourn – Boodles Chester Vase Stakes – 7th May
Racegoers on the 7th May had the privilege of watching the 2025 Derby and Irish Derby winner, though at the time we were all unaware of just how high Lambourn was going to rise at Epsom 4-weeks later. Sent off the 11/8 favourite for the Boodles Chester Vase under Ryan Moore, Lambourn was initially caught wide, but he soon settled behind the pace before coming with a sustained run in the home straight, running the fastest final 2-furlongs in the field as he ran on to win by a length and a half. The form of this race could not have worked out better, with the subsequent Derby runner-up Lazy Griff chasing Lambourn home in 2nd, whilst the German Derby runner-up Convergent was a further 2-lengths behind in 3rd place. At a peak average of 24.97 ft, Lambourn had the longest stride in the field in the Chester Vase and so it was perhaps not a surprise to see that he was so well suited by an aggressive front-running ride from Wayne Lordan at Epsom in June, especially given that he recorded the fastest run-out speed in May at 34.87 mph. Whilst his recent efforts have not been at the same standard, it is important to remember that at the height of the Summer, Lambourn was the best middle distance 3-year-old around and his dominance of the Derby fields began at Chester in May.
Minnie Hauk – Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks – 7th May
Not only did those lucky Racegoers see the Derby winner on the 7th May, but they also saw the Oaks winner Minnie Hauk when she landed the Weatherby’s ePassport Cheshire Oaks. The form of those in behind her that day has not worked out quite as well, but it is impossible to find any fault with the winner who has gone on to Group 1 success at Epsom, the Curragh and York and who holds leading claims for the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in October. This was a very dominant display from Minnie Hauk, who sat on the leaders quarters as far as the 3-furlong pole, at which point Ryan Moore asked her to go and win her race. She responded well, clocking a top speed of 37.51 mph as she stayed on to assert her superiority, holding off Secret of Love to win by a length.
Hamish – Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes – 13th September
Several of the horses in this piece may not race next season, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate some of the Legends of the Sport and that accolade certainly applies to Hamish. He was winning for the 14th time for William Haggas when he landed the Listed Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes in mid-September. Tracking the leaders under Cieren Fallon, he forced his way between runners around the final turn and once hitting the front at the top of the home straight, there was only ever going to be one winner. He was the fastest horse in both the 10th and 11th furlongs as he hit the front and whilst the fast-finishing Mount Atlas was closing on him at the line, Hamish had the race won by that point after recording a top speed of 40.31 mph. This was a 3rd win on the Roodee for Hamish after success in the Ormonde Stakes at the May Festival in 2022 and 2023 and if he is back next year, it wouldn’t be impossible to think that he could add another Chester success to his CV if he gets the soft ground that he needs.
Holguin – Raymond & Kathleen Corbett Memorial City Plate Stakes – 12th July
The Wathnan racing colours were in the winners enclosure in July as Holguin landed the City Plate Stakes under Faleh Bughenaim. We haven’t seen the winner since, but the form has worked out exceptionally well with both the placed horses, Witness Stand and Marvelman, subsequently going on to win in Group company. Holguin was a clear best in this race as you can see from the data set above and it is particularly noticeable that his top speed figure of 41.96 mph was 0.78 mph faster than anything else in the field. Settled behind the pace from his high draw, he quickened readily in the home straight as he ran the fastest final quarter of a mile in just 22.23s to win by a head. The strength of this form is there for all to see after the superb efforts of the placed horses in the interim period and it will be fascinating to see what Holguin can achieve the next time that he takes to the track.
Never So Brave – Ladbrokes Handicap – 31st May
We have talked about a lot of winners in this piece so far but if there is one that got away from this season’s racing at Chester, it must surely be Never So Brave. He finished an unlucky 2nd behind Myal in the Ladbrokes Handicap in May, but his subsequent form, which includes wins in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, a Summer Mile and Group 1 success in the City of York Stakes would suggest that he was more than a little unlucky under Jason Watson on that day at the end of May. As you can see from the data above, he did everything but win when finishing a nose behind the winner, recording some exceptional times in the final furlong when at last he had racing room. He was cantering at the 2-furlong pole, but having been held in by the aforementioned Holguin, Jason Watson was forced to switch wide and that brief loss of momentum was enough to allow Myal to slip away. He went on to reverse the form with Myal in the Buckingham Palace Stakes and at the end of the year, this brief blot on his CV will soon be forgotten, but the initial signs of the improvement that he has subsequently found began on the Roodee.