Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes 2024

Brought into the racing schedule as a brand-new Listed race in 2019, the Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes takes place in May at Chelmsford City on the all-weather track over a trip of six furlongs.

A rather quiet midweek evening event, the Chelmer Stakes is open only to three-year-old fillies and carries a fair prize fund of more than £50,000 which makes it one of the more valuable Listed races on the calendar.

The inaugural running was won by outsider Isaan Queen of Archie Watson’s Lambourn yard and despite a competitive-looking 13-horse field, the form of the race turned out to be pretty weak.

It is very much hoped that, given its place in the schedule, some better fillies will compete in this race in future years as a stepping stone to something like the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

It could yet be that the Polytrack surface is what puts some yards off, many preferring the Tapeta track at Newcastle which is said to ride much fairer.