RACEGOERS will be flocking to Chester today for the start of the May Festival.
The Festival starts with a bang this afternoon with the running of the Chester Cup.
A wonderful 169th running of the two-mile and two-furlong feature race is in prospect.
Anak Pekan has been installed by the sponsors totesport as the ante-post favourite.
But last year's runner-up Big Moment and 2003 Newcastle Northumberland Plate winner Un-leash will also attract strong backing.
The second highlight of the card is the Cheshire Oaks, sponsored for the first time by the racecourse's caterers Letheby and Christopher.
Feature race on tomorrow's Ladies' Day programme is the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase, one of the two big Derby trials of the May Festival.
More thoroughbreds will be in action 35 minutes later in the Breitling Watches and Waltons of Chester Huxley Stakes.
On Friday's 'City Day', all eyes will be on the runners in the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes, the race won twice since 1999 by the subsequent victor in The Derby.
