The pinnacle of Chester's three day May Festival is the Chester Cup run on the final day of the meeting.
Hosted at the oldest racecourse in the world, the Chester Cup attracts some of the biggest names from the staying division with Friday's winner set to scoop over £85,000. The 2m 2f race is a fantastic way to cap off three days racing on the Roodee.
Chester Cup Runners
Let's look at some of the ante-post betting favourites for the 2024 Chester Cup.
Grand Providence
Andrew Balding's upcoming stayer, Grand Providence, is the ante-post favourite for the race and it's easy to see why. Unraced at two, this son of Nathaniel had a productive three year old campaign which included winning the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket in September.
He recently reappeared at Newbury's Greenham meeting where he finished a staying on third behind Prince Alex. He handles all ground and that run showed he retains all his potential. Now stepped back up to that Cesarewitch trip and with a run under his belt, he could go very well.
The Shunter
Whilst Grand Providence won the Cesarewitch Trial, the Shunter won the Cesarewitch itself. Emmet Mullins's stable star has now won major handicaps over jumps at the Cheltenham Festival and on the Flat at Newmarket.
That win earned him a 6lb hike in the ratings to a mark of 100 and, being an 11-year-old, he may be vulnerable to younger improvers. Nevertheless he stays this trip well and holds every chance if primed for this after over six months off.
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Aztec Empire
Another young improver from the Andrew Balding stable is Aztec Empire. This son of Sea The Stars was admirably consistent last term finishing in the frame in the Northumberland Plate, the Mettal UK Handicap at Newbury and the Sky Bets Stayers’ Handicap at York's Ebor meeting.
He often gave best inside the final furlong and has since been gelded. Although he's been off since September he has consistently run well after a break too. The worry here is if the ground came up soft. Traditionally, progeny of Sea The Stars prefer a sounder surface and Aztec Empire's only previous run on soft was very disappointing (beaten 29 lengths).
Novel Legend
Next up is Novel Legend who ran in the Chester Plate last year, the consolation race for the Chester Cup. He went off a well fancied 11/8 favourite that day but was turned over by Zinc White.
He ran on strongly off a slow pace that day and followed it up by a good run at Royal Ascot before beating Grand Providence by a neck in September at Goodwood. Like the favourite, he has already appeared this season so comes here race fit and he holds every chance of hitting the frame with course form already assured.
Prince Alex
Already mentioned, Prince Alex is one of few horses in the betting to arrive here on the back of a win. That came at Newbury when beating Robert Johnson and Grand Providence. He won at the 2021 Glorious Goodwood meeting on soft ground so any forecast rain is a bonus.
Indeed, he's on the same mark (89) as that Goodwood win so is not handicapped out of things by any means. He's unraced at the course but has a chance of hitting the frame at a trip he's largely unexposed at.
Emiyn
It wouldn't be a Chester meeting without writing up Emiyn. Declan Carroll's seven-year-old has form figures of 2171242241 at the track with the 7th coming in this race last year.
He's 2lb higher now and seemed to have the run of the race that day from stall one. Therefore, although his course form earns him some respect, he is vulnerable for winning purposes.
Chester Cup Odds
| Chester Cup Runners | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Providence | 8/1 | 5/1 |
| Duke Of Oxford | 10/1 | 8/1 |
| The Shunter | 12/1 | 8/1 |
| Aztec Empire | 12/1 | 9/1 |
| Novel Legend | 14/1 | 7/1 |
Chester Cup Date & Start Time
This year's Chester Cup will be run on Friday 10th May at 3.40pm at Chester racecourse. It is scheduled to be covered live on ITV Racing.
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Chester Cup Tips
It's difficult to know whether he'll run but if he does then ONEFORTHEGUTTER catches the eye for Ian Williams. Rated 102 as a two-year-old, he had a stop and start next few seasons but really caught the eye at Doncaster when stepped up to 1m 6f.
He finished a short head 2nd that day behind Legendary Day and since won over 1m4f on the All Weather over the winter. His mark of 90 is only 2lb above his 2nd at Doncaster and it looks as though the longer trip could bring out even more improvement.
The Ian Williams team won this race in 2018 with Magic Circle and has also had last year's 4th as well as the 2nd in 2021 so they know what it takes and I'm hoping Oneforthegutter can continue their record.
Advised Bet: 0.5pts each-way Oneforthegutter @ 33/1 (Sky Bet)
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