ON Wednesday, Chester Race-course opens for the 2006 season with the three-day May Festival.
Regular racegoers and those planning a first-time visit will be able to enjoy the changes and developments taking place inside the track that include significantly more open space within the central paddock area.
A new access road on to the course should help traffic flow for racegoers planning to park in the centre of the course. Alterations in licensing restrictions enable the racecourse bars to stay open longer after the last race and this change will ease congestion during departure periods from the Roodee.
Chief executive Richard Thomas said: 'We're looking forward to an exciting season. The staff have worked together to ensure Chester racecourse is better than ever this year.
'The track is looking fantastic and the new stables are ready for the horses to arrive.'
The feature race on the first day is the totesport Chester Cup and the marathon event has attracted a good mix of entries.
Greenwich Meantime demonstrated his race fitness with a win at Ripon last Saturday over two miles and is among the probable Cup entries.
The meeting also stages two recognised Derby trials. On Thursday the Group 3 MBNA Europe Chester Vase run over the Derby distance of one mile four furlongs is the feature of Ladies Day.
Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam is targeting this race with his impressive Newmarket winner Markovitch.
Blue Square City Day rounds off the festival on Friday and features two Group 3 races.
The Cheshire Regiment Dee Stakes (sponsored by Elifar Foundation) run over one mile two furlongs has provided an accurate Derby picture in recent years. Gypsy King recorded victory here last year and finished ahead in fifth place at Epsom last June. In 2003 and 1999 both Kris Kin and Oath tasted success at Chester and subsequently went on to win their respective Derby encounters..
Prospective entries this year include Ivy Creek who won on his seasonal debut at Sandown last week. Mulaquat, who was an improving type last season, is nominated by his trainer Marcus Tregoning as a horse to follow from his yard may also travel to the Roodee.
Cresta Gold will be taking her place in the maiden fillies' race. Meanwhile two-year-old Vanatina, who made her debut at Warwick on Monday should benefit from that outing despite being loaded first into the stalls and being left at the start. nThe feature race at Bangor-on-Dee this evening, where racing begins at 6pm, is the £16,000 Wynnstay Hunt Supporters Club Handicap Chase run over an extended two and a half miles. Calatagan made all to win at Stratford last month in a similar contest and if reproducing that form looks the one to beat here.
Trainer Malcolm Jefferson may notch up a double in the DWF Solicitors Handicap Hurdle with Polar Gunner. The gelding now has five successive wins to his name, the most recent being an eight-length victory at Haydock Park three weeks ago and this is another winning opportunity.
