Friday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Chester and Ascot on May 10

The May Festival bows for another year out with five races for the ITV cameras, including the 200th anniversary of the Chester Cup at 1540.

Yes, you read that correctly, this race was first run in 1824. Sport is old, but horse racing takes it to a different level.

Anyway enough history, we start with a quick run through our ITV tips, including the extra race at Ascot, and there's some reasons why we've made these selections further down the page.

If you fancy a punt or two, check out the Planet Sport race centre which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Chester quick tips:

13:30 (Chester) Liamarty Dreams

13:50 (Ascot) Dragon Leader

14:05 (Chester) Ephesus

14:35 (Chester) Bolster

15:05 (Chester) Passenger

15:40 (Chester) Magellan Strait

 

13:30 (Chester) Liamarty Dreams

Liamarty Dreams can make it a hat-trick of victories in the opening CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap over seven and a half furlongs.

The five-year-old has won over course and distance and has a perfect record in the 2024 season.

The gelding started his campaign with victory at Doncaster before following that up with an impressive run when making all to win at Musselburgh over seven furlongs.

 

13:50 (Ascot) Dragon Leader

Dragon Leader can return from a 216-day absence in style Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Style Handicap.

Winner of four of his five starts, he can step up to seven furlongs despite giving weight to all five rivals.

 

14:05 (Chester) Ephesus

Ephesus can break his maiden for Aidan O’Brien in the Boodles Darley “Confined” Maiden Stakes.

He caught the eye when third on his debut last month on the all-weather at Dundalk and should come on for that run.

 

14:35 (Chester) Bolster

Bolster impressed winning against a good field over 1m2f at Pontefract following a ten-month break.

Trained by Karl Burke and though with a hit-or-miss profile looks set to follow up in the Tote.Co.Uk Free Bet Friday Handicap Handicap.

City Streak returned to action with a good second on heavy ground at Bath.

That run means this previous course and distance winner could be spot on for this and must enter calculations for the Andrew Balding stable that does well at this venue.

Botanical won among lesser company at Hamilton when last seen in October. Will have more to give this season.

 

15:05 (Chester) Passenger

Passenger can make a winning start to his season in the Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes.

The four-year-old has been off the track since winning the Group Three Weatherbys Global Stallions Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor by a short head from West Wind Blows in August.

That win followed a disappointing run in the Derby, where he beat only two of his 14 rivals.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt should relish the extended 10-furlong trip and has form on the ground.

 

15:40 (Chester) Magellan Strait

Magellan Strait is second in the weights and previously this burden would be a negative, but with six of the last eight winners carrying more than nine stone that old trend has changed.

William Buick has been booked by Joseph O’Brien and the Champion Jockey has an excellent race clock in his head and expect Magellan Strait to make all.

Forza Orta comes from the in-form Kevin Ryan stable and won a decent staying race at York last season and only carries two pounds more in this race. 

Despite having had plenty of racing he has only been tried once over two miles or further, so the six-year-old has scope to improve further.

It's a tough call between Forza Orta and Magellan Strait, but based on the changing weight trends and jockey booking, the latter edges it.