Five horses to follow at Chester on Wednesday

Dave Nevison, Ross Millar, Alex Scott, Andy Stephens (RaceiQ) and Nic Doggett share their selections for the action on day one of Chester’s Boodles May Festival. 

Tipster: Ross Millar

Best odds: 9/4

A son of Mehmas, Wait Geordie showed smart early speed and a professional attitude when making all to win on his debut at Bath. 

Oisin Murphy and Hugo Palmer have a good record when linking up at this local track for the trainer, and from a good draw he can utilise his early pace to make all once again. 

Tipster: Nic Doggett

Best odds: 11/1 

A lack of pace worked against God Of War when fourth at Kempton in March, and he ran better than his finishing position suggests when 10th at HQ last month as he didn’t handle the Dip particularly well (racing on the ‘wrong’ side of the track) and made some nice headway two out before fading late on under hands and heels. 

David Egan is back in the saddle and knows this Tom Clover-trained gelding well, having won on him at Sandown last season as well as being on board for that Kempton fourth. The ground should be ideal, and the tempo of this race should suit as well with the well-handicapped former winner Percy’s Lad, stall one speedster Partisan Hero, C&D winner Brighton Boy and keen-going favourite Snow Master all likely to go forward. 

Back down to a mark of 92 – which is 1 lb lower than both his last win and when a neck-second in a similar 0-105 at this meeting last year – God Of War is fancied to pick them up late on. 

Tipster: Alex Scott

Best odds: 16/1

From the family of Warm Heart, Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group One winner over middle distances, this step up in trip is also likely to suit Mr Vettori, who shaped like he was crying out for further last season. 

He chased home subsequent Group One winner Hawk Mountain on his second start before getting off the mark at the third attempt on heavy ground at Gowran in October.

He ran to a similar level on his reappearance at Cork a couple of weeks ago, being first off the bridle, but staying on well for pressure over an extended mile and a quarter, finishing half a length behind the winner Limestone, who had the run of the race. He deserves some credit for getting as close as he did to the winner, closing from the rear off a very slow pace - the FSP was almost 120 per cent.

This will be the fastest ground he has encountered, but he is a likeable performer who ran well on good ground last season. He is one of the more interesting outsiders from stall three. 

Tipster: Andy Stephens (RaceiQ)

Best odds: 5/4

Tornado Tower has the outside draw but this stamina-bred colt shaped with so much promise when runner-up on his debut at Nottingham last month that he can overcome it.

He was badly positioned in a slowly run race that day, plus got involved in a barging match, but he still finished fastest of all in the final three furlongs under tender handling. He’s open to plenty of improvement. 

Tipster: Dave Nevison

Best odds: 11/2

The James Fanshawe-trained Pietro has done all his winning on turning tracks and looks an ideal type for a competitive Chester handicap. 

He was most consistent and improved steadily throughout 2025 and carried on where he left off when making a winning reappearance on the all-weather in March. 

He has only been raised 2 lbs for that victory and, given his profile of steady improvement, he certainly looks able to defy such a rise over what is evidently his ideal trip for a Fanshawe yard that has been in very good form this spring.