The Chesham Stakes is a listed race open to two-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres). The event is named after the 3rd Baron Chesham, who served as the last Master of the Buckhounds in 1900–01. It was established in 1919, and it was originally contested over 5 furlongs. It replaced a previous race, the first leg of the Triennial Stakes. The race has an unusual restriction, being open only to horses sired by stallions who won over ten furlongs or more.
For a period, the Chesham Stakes was contested over 6 furlongs, and it was extended to 7 furlongs in 1996. It is currently restricted to horses whose sires or dams have won at a distance in excess of 1 mile and 1½ furlongs, or in excess of 1,900 metres. Let’s check out the runners involved in the race and see which horses are providing the best Royal Ascot odds on the market.
Count Palatine
Trainer: Brian Meehan
Jockey: Sean Levey
Count Palatine was beaten three-and-a-half lengths on debut at Windsor and needs to take a significant step forward here. Whilst there has been a winner to come out of the race he participated in, this is a massive hike in class for the Brian Meehan-trained gelding. Best to look elsewhere.
Dallas Star
Trainer: Dominic Ffrench-Davis
Jockey: Rowan Scott
Needs to dramatically improve based on what we saw on debut where he was beaten five-and-a-half lengths by Ancient Wisdom at Haydock. No horse has come out of that race and boosted that form in any way so a lot of improvement is required.
Golden Mind
Trainer: Richard Fahey
Jockey: Oisin Orr
Improved from first to second start by winning at Leicester when upped to six furlongs last time. Whilst this is a step up in class for the son of Galileo Gold, the yard went close at this meeting with Malc finishing runner-up in the Norfolk Stakes. He may well improve for the move up to seven –furlongs and he has to command respect.
Hot Fuss
Trainer: Tom Dascombe
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Was well beaten on debut at Newbury where he finished four-and-a-half lengths behind Son just a couple of weeks ago. Whilst the yard won this with Arthur Kitt back in 2018, he had at least some winning experience coming into the race which always helps. Hard to recommend on that basis.
Lightning Leo
Trainer: Archie Watson
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
A winner on debut over this trip at Yarmouth and beat the re-opposing Sayedati Saydaty at the beginning of this month. Further improvement is likely and hails from a useful yard. The booking of Hollie Doyle could well be a massive plus and he looks to have strong place claims here.
Matnookh
Trainer: Richard Fahey
Jockey: Will Buick
Looks to be very much the stable second string as he could manage only a third-placed effort on debut at Windsor just a couple of weeks ago. Whilst there should be more to come, Oisin Orr would have had first pick between them and his choice is respected. Unproven with the extra furlong thrown into the mix and best to look elsewhere.
Oddyssey
Trainer: Patrick Owens
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Oddyssey has it all to do to reverse form with a couple of these including Lightning Leo and Sayedati Saydaty. He was firmly put in his place at Yarmouth just a couple of weeks ago and needs to find something extra. Jim Crowley is a good jockey booking but he would need to be at his brilliant best here.
Quatre Bras
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Jockey: Adam Kirby
Another who has form to turn around with the re-opposing Lightning Leo and Sayedaty Saydaty. Beaten only a little over a length at this trip last time out, this son of Sea The Stars is expected to improve on his debut. It wouldn’t be impossible to suggest he could turn the form around with the horses that beat him last time, but horses with winning experience tend to do better in this race.
Sayedaty Saydaty
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Ran a decent race on debut at Yarmouth behind Lightning Leo. So many of these are so tied together but, ideally, you want a horse that has lost its maiden tag coming into this race. He is fully entitled to improve for that first outing but so too is his conqueror. Hails from a top yard so is respected and has the assistance of Oisin Murphy in the plate. Place claims once more.
Warnie
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: James McDonald
Bids to emulate the success of Holloway Boy who won this race on his debut last year at a massive price. With no form available to read he could very well be anything. Likely to struggle against more experienced rivals and the yard hasn’t exactly been in red-hot form this week. Best observed.
Carolina Reaper
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Jason Hart
Another that looks to have a lot on his plate following a disappointing debut at Beverley where he was quite well-fancied. He came home fourth of nine in that maiden on similar ground so needs to find fistfuls of improvement.
Content
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
Looks to be the stable second string based on jockey bookings with Ryan Moore preferring Pearls and Rubies. Content made a satisfactory debut at Leopardstown where he was only beaten a quarter length by stablemate Buttons over this trip. The front three moved some five lengths clear of the field suggesting that the form could be well worth following. Likely to be in the mix given the yard has won this race four times since 2016.
La Guardia
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Improved from first to second start and likely to prove quite popular as the yard has already enjoyed a winner at the meeting this week. The extra furlong is an unknown and his stamina has to be taken on trust. The way he finished at Goodwood racecourse suggested it would prove no bother and with Kevin Stott on board, the pair have to be respected.
Maymay
Trainer: Kevin Phillipart De Foy
Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
A three-time-raced maiden and has been well beaten in easier races than this. Likely to be found wanting yet again and she looks completely out of her depth.
Nemonte
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Mikey Sheehy
A winner over six furlongs on debut at the Curragh last month but you get the impression that she still needs to improve a little. The form of the race she won has been quite mixed and the stable has been fairly quiet so far this week. The winning experience is a big asset though and she should run well enough.
Pearls And Rubies
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Ryan Moore has partnered with an Aidan O’Brien runner to success in this race on four separate occasions since 2016. The pair clearly target this race specifically and Pearls And Rubies only made her debut less than ten days ago. The yard clearly feels she will have no bother staying the extra couple of furlongs, although breeding suggests a solid six would be ideal. Looks very much the yard’s preferred one but ultimately could prove vulnerable.
Snellen
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Jockey: Gary Carroll
A winner over this trip on debut at Limerick for Gavin Cromwell and beat thirteen rivals in the process. The yard has been firing out winners over the last week and they must really fancy their chances to be coming over. Snellen is open to further improvement and bigger shocks have been caused in this race so no surprise to see her run well.
Chesham Stakes Betting Tips
Irish form seems to be key to this race and Content enjoyed a good first run at Leopardstown on his debut. Although looking like he is the stable second string here, he should improve on that previous experience. Wayne Lordan has a good record at this track and as seen so many times in Ireland he can outgun Ryan Moore who rides the preferred horses on every occasion.
Pearls And Rubies looks destined to go well and she made a perfect winning debut. There are just a few doubts about her seeing out this trip and if she was really fancied she would be odds on.
Joseph O’Brien brings Nemonte over, but the yard has been fairly quiet this week and that is fairly concerning. Snellen is a fascinating contender for Gavin Cromwell and she is not coming over just for the fresh air.
1. Content @ 13/2 e/w with Bet365 bonus code
2. Pearls And Rubies @ 9/4 with Bet365
3. Snellen @ 11/1 with Bet365
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
