rewrite this title Chester May Festival: Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien continue dominance as Jan Brueghel bags Ormonde Stakes

Jan Brueghel defied a lengthy absence to run out an impressive winner of the Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes at Chester on Thursday.

Early last June the 2024 St Leger winner looked set for a special summer after beating Calandagan in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, but front-running tactics did not work in the King George at Ascot and he did not run again.

Briefly trapped on the rails when the pace quickened, it looked like Sons And Lovers had got first run but once in the clear Jan Brueghel (4/7 favourite) quickened impressively for Ryan Moore to beat Mount Atlas by two and a half lengths.

A return to Epsom for the Coolmore-sponsored Coronation Cup now beckons for the impressive winner.

O’Brien was not on the Roodee, but told the Press Association: “We were very happy, obviously he hadn’t run for a long time and the plan was to go back to Epsom with him after this.

“He enjoyed Epsom last year in the Coronation, he was very good there last year so it makes sense to go back there.

“Obviously Coolmore sponsor it now as well so that’s nice.”

Constitution River delivers impressive Dee Stakes performance

O’Brien had already continued his domination of the Classic trials when Constitution River won the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes with real authority.

On a controversial afternoon on the Roodee when the second race was delayed by over an hour due to a track inspection, the field for the Derby trial was weakened by the withdrawal of the William Haggas-trained Morshdi, with connections unhappy with ground conditions.

O’Brien was happy to run his son of Wootton Bassett, however, and having landed the Cheshire Oaks with Amelia Earhart and the Chester Vase with Benvenuto Cellini, Constitution River justified 2/9 favouritism with the minimum of fuss.

Whereas Golden Story struggled with the twists and turns, the Ballydoyle inmate, a Group Two winner last season, travelled as if on rails for Moore, beating Generic by seven lengths.

Moore said: “He’s a gorgeous horse with very smart form as a juvenile. He had a slight setback and had to miss the end of the year, but he will improve for this race and gave me a lovely feel and I think he’s an exciting horse.

“He’s probably fine at 10 furlongs, but I would say he would have no problem going up in trip and there’s plenty of options open to him.”

Constitution River was made 7/1 for Epsom by Derby sponsors Betfred, although O’Brien had previously stated he could be a candidate for the French equivalent, while the colt also holds an entry for the St James’s Palace Stakes back over a mile at Royal Ascot.

Roman Dragon revels on the Roodee once more

The opener of the second day of May Festival could not have had a more popular winner than it did with course specialist Roman Dragon landing the five-furlong CAA Stellar Handicap.

Sent off at 4/1, Roman Dragon was already the winning-most horse around his local Roodee and took his tally to an impressive eight wins from 21 runs.

Oisin Murphy had the Heeraat gelding positioned prominently through the race and fought off the late challenge from stablemate Dubai Bling to win by a head.

Malpas trainer Hugo Palmer said: “Roman Dragon around here is so special. He loses interest in a straight line and he’s a very balanced, agile, nimble horse.

“I think he just has a look around and straight lines don’t do it for him, but he ran very well at York last year. He has won in Bahrain as well, but for him it’s all about here and he will come back here when he can.

“He won the Queensferry Stakes last year and we’ll try to win it again later in the summer.”