Jan Brueghel marked his return to competitive action with a commanding performance in the Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes at Chester on Thursday. The 2024 St Leger winner, who had been off the track since a disappointing run in the King George at Ascot last summer, showed his class by defeating Mount Atlas by two and a half lengths as the 4/7 favourite. Jockey Ryan Moore guided the horse to an impressive victory after overcoming a brief moment of being trapped against the rail.
The victory sets up a potential return to Epsom for the Coolmore-sponsored Coronation Cup, a race Jan Brueghel won last year. Trainer Aidan O'Brien, who was not present at the Roodee, expressed his satisfaction with the performance and confirmed the plan to head back to Epsom. He noted the horse's previous success at the course and the sponsorship connection as key factors in the decision.
Earlier in the day, O'Brien's dominance of the Chester May Festival continued when Constitution River delivered a commanding performance in the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes. The son of Wootton Bassett justified his 2/9 favouritism with a seven-length victory over Generic, travelling smoothly throughout the race. Jockey Ryan Moore praised the horse's ability and suggested he could handle an increase in distance in the future.
Constitution River's impressive win has seen him installed as a 7/1 contender for the Derby by sponsors Betfred. However, O'Brien has previously mentioned the French Derby as a possible target, and the colt also holds an entry for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. The victory added to O'Brien's strong record at Chester this week, following earlier wins with Amelia Earhart in the Cheshire Oaks and Benvenuto Cellini in the Chester Vase.
The day's opening race provided a popular local winner when Roman Dragon claimed the CAA Stellar Handicap. The course specialist, trained by Hugo Palmer in Malpas, secured his eighth victory from 21 runs at Chester, extending his record as the winning-most horse at the track. Jockey Oisin Murphy guided the 4/1 shot to a head victory over stablemate Dubai Bling.
Palmer explained that Roman Dragon thrives on Chester's unique track, describing the horse as balanced, agile, and nimble. He noted that the horse loses interest on straight courses but excels around the turns at the Roodee. The trainer confirmed plans to target the Queensferry Stakes later in the summer, a race Roman Dragon won last year.
The second day of the Chester May Festival was not without controversy, as the second race was delayed by over an hour due to a track inspection. The field for the Dee Stakes was also weakened by the withdrawal of the William Haggas-trained Morshdi, with connections unhappy with the ground conditions. Despite these disruptions, the day's racing produced several noteworthy performances that will shape future plans for the winners.
Based on reporting from SkySports | News.