Hector Crouch: Chester May Meeting 2026
Hector Crouch is northern-bound for the Chester May Meeting 2026 and a strong book of rides for Days 2 and 3 on The Roodee. Read his exclusive preview ahead of today’s racing.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Thursday
It was disappointing to miss out on the Guineas weekend through suspension, but it was a great showcase for the sport with both Bow Echo and True Love running out fantastic winners of both classics.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Atomic Force
Atomic Force (1.30) wasn’t helped by a poor draw last time out at Pontefract, having done well on the all-weather since joining from Hong Kong. He had previously done well around Happy Valley so should be fine around a bend here at Chester. He’s very quick and will like the ground. I think he should go well.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Caballo Grande
You can put a line through the performance of Caballo Grande (3.40) who was too Roy Keane to get home last time out at Newbury, and should be much better with that run out of the way. Both wins have been around a bend, so he should like somewhere like Chester and he’s got the plumb draw in stall one. We’d like to get a lead but he’s got lots of early speed and a good draw, so he may end up going forward, but let’s see.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Let’s Dream
A horse with good form around here is Let’s Dream (4.10) who won over course and distance at this meeting 12 months ago. We haven’t seen him since landing a nice York handicap when I was on board last October but Michael (Bell) knows how to get them ready first time out and hes’ got a good record fresh. He’s at a career-high mark, up 6lb for that York success, but he’s improving and should go well – although he wouldn’t want the ground to be too quick.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Parisian Scholar
Charlie Johnston’s Parisian Scholar (4.45) is another with a good draw for the mile and a half handicap. He’s twice made all in handicaps around Newcastle and has first-time headgear stepping up in trip and looks to tick a lot of boxes. He has placed twice behind the well-fancied Moment of Light but re-opposes on 4lb better terms and hopefully can reverse the form and set his own fractions.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Friday
Janey Mackers (1.30) is a nice filly who I’ve sat on recently and is in good order ahead of the extended handicap over a mile and a quarter. She has the unenviable task of trying to get across from stall 13 (of 14) but ran well in listed company towards the back end of last season and arrives in good order. She wouldn’t want the ground too quick but is in good order and will run well if getting across from the right wing early.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Joulany
I’ve talked up the ability of Joulany since his debut last season, and while it was a pleasing return last month at Newbury he needs to win tomorrow. He’s a nice colt, who has some fancy entries but remains a maiden after three starts and up in trip, with the hood back off, he needs to do the business on The Roodee.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Moon Over Miami
It looks like a competitive renewal of The Chester Cup, and I ride Ralph Beckett’s Moon Over Miami (3.05) drawn in stall 7. He was very keen for his seasonal reappearance up at Musselburgh, when hurried for the lead and lit up early. He has always been a bit fresh but when he was pestered for the lead up at Musselburgh, it made him even worse. He’s got a bit of early speed to get into a nice position early hopefully, and I’ve got no concerns at all with seeing out the trip.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Kirkdale
The hat-trick seeking Kirkdale (3.40) has the less than ideal draw of stall 14 of 16 for the 6f Handicap but arrives in good form having won at Wolverhampton and Southwell. It will be tough from that position but he arrives in good form and hasn’t been harshly treated from a 9lb rise at the weights.
Chester May Meeting 2026: Alvin
A horse that looks hopefully set to go well is Alvin (4.45) who should love the likely quick ground, having won on firm ground last week at Bath. He was out like lightning when scoring last time out , but there looks to be plenty of speed in the race so he can hopefully sit and take a lead.
By Hector Crouch
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