14:35 Chester 09 May 2025
IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes
Group 2 | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner £73,723 - 6 ran
soon led, headed after 1st, tracked leaders on inside, switched right and ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well
took keen hold, led early, prominent, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no impression on winner towards finish
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final 100 yards, never troubled leaders
led after 1f, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never involved
slow to break, chased leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced and no impression
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £52.92 (7, 2) |
| Win | £2.63 (7) |
| Place | £1.40 (7), £10.40 (2) |
| Swinger | £15.60 (2, 5), £8.80 (2, 7), £2.20 (5, 7) |
| Exacta | £52.70 (7, 2) |
| Trifecta | £229.90 (7, 2, 5) |
Expert Analysis
The ground was back to “good” (as advertised) for the final day of the Chester May Meeting, having been watered and slower than that earlier in the week. This was run at a fairly steady pace (winner’s final 2f of 23.63s gives a 106.0% finishing speed) and the first 2 showed smart form, with the third shaping quite well also.
THE FOXES (114 here, 115 previously) had been 4th at Sha Tin and 2nd in Saudi Arabia in elite company on his 2 most recent appearances and all but matched that form with a ready success, leading for 1f then tracking and travelling well, switched outside and running on for pressure to lead with 125 yards to go. Probably best around this trip, he should continue to go well just below the very best class.
CAIRO (111 here, 106 previously) was back to the form of his second to Paddington in the Irish 2000 Guineas a couple of years back, having been performing respectably in the UAE. Always close up, he led approaching the final 1f but could not withstand the winner’s strong late run.
LIBERTY LANE (107+ here, 113 previously) still seemed a little rusty but shaped quite well, held up last, flat-footed as things really heated up 3f out, then going on well in the final 1f, never a threat. He won handicaps in 2024, albeit good ones including the Cambridgeshire, but ought to be up to winning in listed/G3 company.
BOLSTER (107 here, 110 previously) ran quite close to form, making most then no extra.
SPACE LEGEND (105 here, 110 previously) should come on for this, at a trip that may be too short by now, held up and lacking the pace to improve but running respectably.
CERTAIN LAD (104 here, 112 previously) got worked up beforehand and did not lead after a slow start, not altogether discredited in any case.
Video Highlights
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Replay: 14:35 Chester 9th May 2025 -
Post-Race Reaction: 9th May 2025
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Good to Firm | 6 | Passenger | 4 | 4 | 9 3 | - | 1301 | 258 days | Sir Michael Stoute (182 miles) | Richard Kingscote | 7/ 4 | 2:05.24 |
| 2023 | Soft | 6 | Point Lonsdale | 3 | 4 | 9 3 | - | 11120-1 | 26 days | A P O'Brien (258 miles) | Ryan Moore | 5/ 6 | 2:13.98 |
| 2022 | Good | 4 | Solid Stone | 5 | 6 | 9 3 | - | 33411-0 | 69 days | Sir Michael Stoute (182 miles) | Ryan Moore | 4/ 1 | 2:07.79 |
| 2021 | Good to Soft | 4 | Armory | 3 | 4 | 9 1 | - | 2-44132 | 195 days | A P O'Brien (258 miles) | Ryan Moore | 6/ 5 | 2:11.64 |
| 2019 | Soft | 6 | Forest Ranger | 3 | 5 | 9 1 | - | 7552-72 | 22 days | R A Fahey (105 miles) | Tony Hamilton | 9/ 2 | 2:16.26 |
| 2018 | Good | 5 | Forest Ranger | 5 | 4 | 9 1 | - | 52328-1 | 23 days | R A Fahey (105 miles) | Tony Hamilton | 6/ 1 | 2:08.39 |
| 2017 | Good | 6 | Deauville | 4 | 4 | 9 0 | - | 2013-72 | 13 days | A P O'Brien (258 miles) | Ryan Moore | 6/ 4 | 2:10.22 |
| 2016 | Good | 7 | Cannock Chase | 5 | 5 | 9 7 | - | 272D10 | 144 days | Sir Michael Stoute (182 miles) | Ryan Moore | 11/ 4 | 2:11.65 |
| 2015 | Soft | 5 | Maverick Wave | 4 | 4 | 9 0 | - | 316-151 | 40 days | J & T Gosden (182 miles) | William Buick | 4/ 1 | 2:15.33 |
| 2014 | Soft | 6 | Noble Mission | 8 | 5 | 9 3 | - | 1434-21 | 13 days | Lady Jane Cecil (182 miles) | James Doyle | 9/ 4 | 2:13.11 |
| 2013 | Good | 7 | Danadana | 3 | 5 | 9 0 | - | 5-81191 | 260 days | L M Cumani (182 miles) | Kieren Fallon | 10/ 3 | 2:11.61 |
| 2012 | Soft | 7 | Marcret | 5 | 5 | 9 0 | - | 133-365 | 68 days | M Botti (182 miles) | Ryan Moore | 13/ 2 | 1:18.48 |
| 2011 | Good to Firm | 5 | Await The Dawn | 5 | 4 | 9 3 | - | 17-11 | 243 days | A P O'Brien (258 miles) | Ryan Moore | 8/ 11 | 2:08.54 |
| 2010 | Good to Soft | 8 | Debussy | 1 | 4 | 9 0 | - | 8016-90 | 63 days | J & T Gosden (182 miles) | William Buick | 11/ 1 | 2:12.38 |
| 2009 | Good to Firm | 9 | Doctor Fremantle | 8 | 4 | 9 0 | - | 1-21448 | 236 days | Sir Michael Stoute (182 miles) | Ryan Moore | EVENS | 2:10.04 |
| 2008 | Good to Firm | 6 | Championship Point | 4 | 5 | 9 0 | - | 9-05814 | 13 days | M R Channon (170 miles) | D Holland | 12/ 1 | 2:11.21 |
| 2007 | Good | 4 | Maraahel | 1 | 6 | 9 5 | - | 15265-1 | 19 days | Sir Michael Stoute (182 miles) | Richard Hills | 4/ 6 | 2:08.88 |
| 2006 | Good to Firm | 4 | Maraahel | 2 | 5 | 9 0 | - | 3333-63 | 19 days | Sir Michael Stoute (182 miles) | Richard Hills | 4/ 11 | 2:07.92 |
| 2005 | Good to Soft | 10 | Maraahel | 1 | 4 | 9 1 | - | 2214-85 | 19 days | Sir Michael Stoute (182 miles) | Richard Hills | 10/ 3 | 2:13.29 |
