Horse Racing
2025 Chester May Festival Race Times, Running Order and ITV Races Covered
Andy is a horse racing journalist and betting expert who specializes in trends and stats. With his long association with TrainersQuotes and FromTheStables, Andy has also built up solid s with some of the best stables in the UK. Has written for GeeGeez and bookmakers Matchbook and BetBright in the past too, plus was the former sports betting editor of odds comparison site Easyodds and Juicestorm. Has also appeared on betting podcasts for MatchBook and has featured in the popular Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide in the past. Andy's also ghost written for former top jockey Richard Dunwoody and continues to have a monthly column in the Racing Ahead horse racing magazine. Now a regular on Sportscasting giving his views, trends and tips mainly on horse racing - if there's a stat to be explored and it's a sport, Andy is sure to find a betting angle to use. You can also hear Andy's weekly horse racing views and best bets on the popular Final Furlong podcast.
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The Chester May Festival is one of the most popular early season flat meetings of the year so we look at the dates for this year’s meeting – plus the full running order and which races will be shown live on ITV Racing. With the three-day meeting getting going this midweek.
When Does The Chester May Festival Start?
The 2025 Chester May Festival will run from Wednesday 7th May to Friday 9th May.
Over the fixture there are top Group races that include the Chester Vase, Huxley Stakes and Ormonde Stakes – which often described as Classic Trials for later in the season.
However, the main race at the meeting is a handicap – The Chester Cup – which is run on the final day of the meeting (Friday).
The race was won last year by the Hugo Palmer-trained Zoffee (watch below) – but it’s not been the best race for the favourites with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
Since 1975 there’s only been four winning Chester Cup market leaders.
Zoffee is also expected to be back to defend his title. He’s rated only a pound higher this time and will be looking to become the first ‘back-to-back’ Chester Cup winner since Anak Pekan in 2004/05.
Chester May Festival Race Times and Running Order 2025
See below the running times and full race schedule for the 2025 Chester May Meeting – with seven races over the three days and 21 contests in total.
Wednesday 7th May 2025 – Chester May Festival
- 1:30 pm – THE CAA STELLAR LILY AGNES EBF CONDITIONS STAKES
Distance: 5f 15y | Prize: £50,000 | Class: 2 | Age: 2 📺 ITV4 - 2:05 pm – THE LADBROKES BEST ODDS GUARANTEED ON RACING HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 5f 15y | Prize: £30,000 | Class: 3 | Age: 3 📺ITV4 - 2:35 pm – THE WEATHERBYS eport CHESHIRE OAKS (Listed Race)
Distance: 1m 3f 75y | Prize: £120,000 | Class: 1 | Age: 3 📺ITV4 - 3:05 pm – THE BOODLES CHESTER VASE STAKES (Group 3)
Distance: 1m 4f 63y | Prize: £140,000 | Class: 1 | Age: 3 📺ITV4 - 3:40 pm – THE LOVE FEDERAL CAPITAL HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 6f 17y | Prize: £30,000 | Class: 3 | Age: 3 📺ITV4 - 4:10 pm – THE HEINEKEN MAIDEN STAKES
Distance: 1m 2f 70y | Prize: £25,000 | Class: 3 | Age: 3 📺SkyRacing - 4:45 pm – THE HORSERADISH CATERING & EVENTS HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 7f 1y | Prize: £25,000| Class: 3 | Age: 4+ 📺SkyRacing
Thursday 8th May 2025 – Chester May Meeting
- 1:30 pm THE CAA STELLAR HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 5f 15y | Prize: £45,000| Class: 2 | Age: 4+ 📺ITV4 - 2:05 pm THE BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF MAIDEN STAKES
Distance: 5f 110y | Prize: £40,000 | Class: 2 | Age: 2 📺ITV4 - 2:35 pm THE BOODLES RAINDANCE DEE STAKES (Listed Race)
Distance: 1m 2f 70y | Prize: £100,000| Class: 1 | Age: 3 📺ITV4 - 3:05 pm THE LADBROKES BIG-VALUE YOU CAN BET ON ORMONDE STAKES (Group 3)
Distance: 1m 5f 84y | Prize: £140,000 | Class: 1 | Age: 4+ 📺ITV4 - 3:40 pm THE LOUISE KEEGAN HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 7f 127y | Prize: £45,000 | Class: 2 | Age: 3 📺ITV4 - 4:10 pm THE HALLIWELL JONES HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 1m 2f 70y | Prize: £30,000| Class: 3 | Age: 4+ 📺SkyRacing - 4:45 pm THE OXFORD NATURAL HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 1m 4f 63y | Prize: £25,000| Class: 4 | Age: 3 📺SkyRacing
Friday 9th May 2025 – Chester May Meeting
- 1:30 pm – THE CAA STELLAR EARL GROSVENOR HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 7f 127y | Prize: £45,000| Class: 2 | Age: 4+📺ITV4 - 2:05 pm – THE BOODLES DARLEY EBF MAIDEN STAKES (GBB RACE)
Distance: 1m 4f 63y | Prize: £40,000 | Class: 2 | Age: 3📺ITV4 - 2:35 pm – THE IRE-INCENTIVE, IT PAYS TO BUY IRISH HUXLEY STAKES (Group 2)
Distance: 1m 2f 70y | Prize: £130,000| Class: 1 | Age: 4+📺ITV4 - 3:05 pm – THE LADBROKES CHESTER CUP (Heritage Handicap)
Distance: 2m 2f 140y | Prize: £170,000| Class: 2 | Age: 4+📺ITV4 - 3:40 pm – THE PRECISION FACADES HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 1m 2f 70y | Prize: £45,000| Class: 2 | Age: 4+📺ITV4 - 4:10 pm – THE XENON WORKPLACE APPRENTICE HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 1m 4f 63y | Prize: £22,500| Class: 4 | Age: 4+📺SkyRacing - 4:45 pm – THE LADBROKES GET REWARDED WITH LADBUCKS CHESTER PLATE HANDICAP STAKES
Distance: 2m 2f 140y | Prize: £50,000| Class: 2 | Age: 4+📺SkyRacing
Is The Chester May Meeting On ITV Racing?
Yes, the ITV Racing cameras will be at Chester to cover their 2025 May Meeting.
They are expected to take in the first five races each day on their ITV4 network
Recent Chester Cup Winners
- 2024 – Zoffee (9/1)
- 2023 – Metier (5/1)
- 2022 – Cleveland (6/1)
- 2021 – Falcon Eight (15/2)
- 2020 – No Race
- 2019 – Making Miracles (16/1)
- 2018 – Magic Circle (8/1)
- 2017 – Montaly (16/1)
- 2016 – No Heretic (11/1)
- 2015 – Trip To Paris (10/1)
- 2014 – Suegioo (10/1)