Powells Jewellery Ladies Day Feat. Ella Henderson

A stellar crowd of over 20,000 guests descended on the Roodee for the 2024 Powells Jewellery Ladies Day, on an afternoon full of style and sunshine. The feature race of the day arrived at 3:15pm in the Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed), in which Absurde would bid to provide legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins with his first winner at the track. Ground conditions Good throughout.

Race 1 – British Stallions Stud EBF Novice Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (Class 2, 2yo, 7f)

Two weeks after a promising third place on racecourse debut, King Of Cities (13/8F) put his experience to good use in the first race of the day, comfortably seeing off the opposition by 1 ¼ lengths for Sean Levey and Richard Hannon. Never too far away from early trailblazer End Of Romance (11/4), King Of Cities travelled nicely in amongst the leading group through the half-mile point, switching out wide as the tempo increased with three furlongs to go. Nudged along but apparently full of running, King Of Cities easily moved upsides End Of Romance upon entering the home straight, edging into the lead as Marchogion (14/1) made a challenge down the centre of the track. Staying on gamely for increased pressure, King Of Cities extended away nicely in the final furlong, ridden out by Sean Levey to score in fine style. A familiar sight in 2024, Hannon and Levey also took two Group 1s this season with Rosallion: yet another to carry the Obaid Al Maktoum silks!

Race 2 – Livescore Bet Handicap (Class 2, 3yo+, 7 ½f)

Having a rather boom or bust season, Two Tempting (11/1) was certainly booming again in the second race of the day, filtering his way through traffic in the final furlong to score by ¾ of a length for Rob Hornby and Jonathan Portman. Always to the fore, Two Tempting raced up the inside rail in third place through the opening half mile of the contest, tracking leader and recent Galway Festival winner Physique (12/1) towards Castle Bend with Gorak (6/1) racing out wide. The only contender to still be travelling on the bridle, Two Tempting moved eye-catchingly well around the home turn, the majority of the field now under pressure as Gorak led the field into the straight. Finding a perfect gap and quickly sealing the deal, Two Tempting darted back to the inside rail with just over a furlong to go, kicking on strongly to hold off Divine Libra (9/1) in the closing stages with Gorak back in third. Successful together in the past, Portman and Hornby also took a Group 3 in 2022 with Rumstar!

Race 3 – Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1, 3yo+, 1m 6 ½f)

Recording his first ever victory at the track, Closutton maestro Willie Mullins once again scooped a big prize on the flat when Absurde (5/2) took the feature race of the afternoon, coming home a tidy 1 ¼ length victor under Danny Tudhope. Towards the rear through the opening circuit, Danny Tudhope kept things calm aboard Absurde for the most part, the lead occupied by Enemy (40/1) as market principal Caius Chorister (15/8F) raced keenly in third place. Travelling best of all with just under three furlongs to negotiate, Absurde stuck to the inside rail as the field made their way around the home turn, fellow Irish raider Samui (9/2) now under pressure but making headway on the outer. Motionless in the saddle upon entering the straight, Tudhope pushed the button about Absurde with just over a furlong to race, ridden along but easily moving past the hard-ridden Caius Chorister and readily coming clear to take the spoils, adding to his 2023 Ebor and 2024 County Hurdle victories!

Race 4 – CAA Stellar Handicap (Class 4, 3yo, 5f)

Finally adding to his success on racecourse debut in April 2023, Balon D’Or (11/2) needed every yard of the five furlongs in Race 4 to score again, edging home to score by just a nose for Richard Kingscote and Hugo Palmer. Alertly out of the gates and quickly forcing a blistering gallop in front, Balon D’Or kept company with race favourite Call Glory (100/30F) through the opening three furlongs of the contest, ridden along to maintain the lead as the chasing pack closed up around the home turn. Under pressure with a couple of furlongs to go, Balon D’Or was soon challenged either side by Due For Luck (8/1) and Fair Taxes (8/1), Make It Easy (10/1) now also making headway down the centre of the track. However, gamely battling on for Kingscote’s urgings, Balon D’Or saw out his race nicely, holding on grimly to see off Make It Easy in the shadows of the post. A regular winner at the track, Kingscote was also successful aboard Passenger in this year’s Group 2 Huxley Stakes!

Race 5 – Powells Jewellery EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (Class 2, 2yo, 6f)

Providing a quickfire double for owners and trainer, It Ain’t Two (7/2) came home a stylish 2 ½ length winner of the fifth race under Jason Hart, the 2-year-old filly gaining a deserved second victory after a string of creditable runs in stronger races. Darting out the gates and into the lead within a matter of strides, It Ain’t Two soon had matters in hand through the first couple of furlongs, tracked in her slipstream by Cressida Wildes (5/1) as market leader Adrestia (13/8F) raced in rear division. Still moving nicely on the bridle with a quarter of a mile left to travel, It Ain’t Two slipped the field around the home turn, galloping on powerfully as Cressida Wildes tried to pull back the deficit. Not to be denied, however, It Ain’t Two was never in any danger down the straight, pulling clear in the closing stages to provide Hugo Palmer and Michael Owen with a second winner on the day!

Race 6 – Horse PWR Handicap (Class 3, 3yo+, 6f)

In a thrilling photo finish, The Bell Conductor (18/1) stayed on strongly to score by a short head in Race 6, seeing off a host of Roodee regulars under William Pyle to score for trainer Craig Lidster. Slowly into stride but never too far away, The Bell Conductor settled in midfield after negotiating the first quarter mile, closely pursued by previous course winners Garfield Shadow (7/2F) and Roman Dragon (8/1) as the field made their way past towards home. Switching out wide for clearer daylight, The Bell Conductor looked to have it all to do after rounding the bend, Paws For Thought (11/2) now in prime position to add a fifth Roodee victory. However, staying on strongly in the final furlong, The Bell Conductor found his second wind under William Pyle, flying through when the gaps appeared to lead right on the line and deny a trio of previous course winners by half a length. With this his 23^rd winner of the calendar year, Lidster has now collected over £354K in prize money in 2024 alone!

Race 7 – Powells Jewellery Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 2m)

Taking full advantage of the drop into Class 4 company, Spirit Mixer (9/2) ran out an impressive 2 ¼ length winner of the final race, bringing home the spoils for Andrew Balding, and providing Rob Hornby with a double on the day. Prominent from the outset, Spirit Mixer tracked Dreams Adozen (10/1) towards the head of affairs through the first mile and a half, the pace a sedate one as market leader Sea Grey (5/2F) raced in rear division. With just over three furlongs to race, Hornby stepped it up a notch aboard Spirit Mixer, guiding his mount to the outside of Dreams Adozen as the home turn came into view. The only runner apparently with plenty left in the tank, Spirit Mixer soon had matters in hand as the contest came to a close, breezing into the lead around the final bend before powering on stylishly down the straight to record a thoroughly dominant victory. A combination to be feared at Chester, Balding and Hornby also took the 2017 City Plate with Viscount Barfield!

Race report by Adam Perkins