The grand finale of the Boodles May Festival 2025 is just around the corner, scheduled for May 9th, 2025, and will feature the much-anticipated Chester Cup, adding zeal and enthusiasm to an action-packed race day. With seven exciting races on the card, racegoers will once again unite at Chester Racecourse for a full day of top-tier competition and celebration.
Gates will open at 11:30 am, with the first race starting at 1:30 pm and the last race set for 4:45 pm. The festival’s final day will kick off with The CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap Stakes, a Class 2 race covering a distance of 7 furlongs and 127 yards, carrying a prize of £45,000.
Next on the card is The Boodles Darley EBF Maiden Stakes, scheduled for 2:05 pm. This maiden race, run over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 63 yards, offers a prize of £40,000, and is expected to reveal some of the sport’s emerging stars.
The third race at 2:35 pm will be a Class 1 stakes race, run over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 70 yards, offering a generous £130,000 prize fund. The headline event of the day, The Chester Cup (Heritage Handicap), will follow shortly after.
Open to horses aged four years and older, the Chester Cup is a Class 2 race and will be contested over 2 miles 2 furlongs and 140 yards. With a prize purse of £170,000, this race will undoubtedly be the centerpiece of the festival. The crowd will gather in anticipation, ready to cheer their favourites to victory. In 2024, ZOFFEE secured a memorable win in this race under jockey Harry Davies, trained by Hugo Palmer.
The fifth race, The Precision Facades Handicap Stakes, will take place at 3:40 pm. This Class 2 event will run over 1 mile 2 furlongs and 70 yards, offering £45,000 in prize money. At 4:10 pm, the Xenon Workplace Apprentice Handicap Stakes will bring apprentice jockeys into the spotlight. This Class 4 race will span 1 mile 4 furlongs and 63 yards, with a prize pool of £22,500.
The final race of the festival, The Chester Plate Handicap Stakes, will begin at 4:45 pm. This Class 2 contest will run over the same 2 miles 2 furlongs and 140 yards as the Chester Cup and features a £50,000 prize.
The concluding day of the Boodles May Festival promises a deserving celebration of racing excellence, highlighting the achievements of both seasoned and rising contenders. Following the glamour of Ladies’ Day, the stands will be packed again as fans come together to witness new champions being crowned. The roar for the Chester Cup will be monumental, making the final day a true must-watch event at Chester Racecourse.
