THE Roodee provided the perfect summer setting for Ladies Evening on Tuesday night.

A crowd of 13,620 flocked to the racecourse to appreciate a competitive race card where favourite backers endured a lean evening until the final race.

Action got under way with the five-furlong Edwards Homes EBF Maiden Stakes.

The 11-1 chance Verite made the most of his early lead to record a one-length victory for trainer Mark Polglase.

Richard Guest is better known for his successful exploits in jump racing, including victory aboard Red Maurauder in the 2001 Aintree Grand National, before turning his hand to a rewarding training career.

Les Arcs, sent off at 5-1, provided Guest with his first win at Chester when Franny Norton partnered the consistent gelding to a one-length victory over favourite Little Good Bay in the feature race, the £15,000 Imagine Finance Handicap Stakes.

Jockey Jimmy Fortune made all the running in the one-mile two-furlong Ernst & Young Handicap Stakes aboard 10-1 shot Shamrock Bay. The filly held off challenges from Blue Bajan and Barbirolli to score by half a length.

Sprint specialist David Nicholls sent out the first two home in the Corbett Bookmakers Handicap Stakes, run over five furlongs. Handsome Cross, who finished second, and Foley Millennium were battling for the lead when Franny Norton brought 4-1 chance Plateau with a late surge to win by half a length.

Nicholls said: 'That's what it's all about, nothing went right for him at Epsom last time out. We all think he's got a big race in him.'

The one-mile two-furlong Heathcote Handicap Stakes provided Nicholls with a quick double after a false start when Rani Two burst prematurely from his starting stall and was withdrawn from proceedings.

Castleshane set the pace before David's son Adrian brought Lucayan Dancer, a 14-1 shot, on the outside with a perfectly timed run, winning by a head on the line from Gavroche.

Lady Amateur riders contested the Browns of Chester Handicap Stakes to round off the evening. Lennel threw away his chance at the start of the one-mile-four-furlong race when showing a reluctance to take part.

Full As A Rocket was the early pacemaker, tracked by Theatre Tinka. The 7-2 favourite Tedstale was always travelling smoothly for Neena Carberry, who asked her mount to accelerate from the final bend.

From this point the result was never in doubt as the seven-year-old quickly opened up an unassailable lead and drew clear by two lengths past the winning post.