During Chester’s three-day midweek May Festival, alongside the top handicaps come three recognised Classic trials. The Cheshire Oaks and the Dee Stakes are Listed races for fillies and colts respectively over 1m2f, while the Chester Vase is a Group 3 event for colts and geldings over the full Derby trip of a mile-and-a-half.
As horses need good balance to win around Chester given the tight turns, as well as the fact that this race is over 1m4f, the Chester Vase is seen as one of the better Derby trials around and comes just at the right time being a few weeks before Epsom.
Betting on the Chester Vase
The prize fund for this event is over £100,000 which also helps it to attract runners from some of the better yards, a fact borne out by the list of past winners. Unfuwain, Millenary, Ruler Of The World, US Army Ranger and Young Rascal, for example, have all gone on to have top careers.