A general view of runners and riders during the Caa Stellar Handicap with Roman Dragon ridden by Oisin Murphy winning on Ladies Day of the Boodles May Festival at Chester Racecourse, Chester. Picture Date: Thursday May 7, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder. Credit: PACHESTER races has been hit by delays after Oisin Murphy reported dangerous conditions on the second day of the Festival.
Murphy had the crowd roaring when he scored in the first aboard course specialist Roman Dragon, co-owned by Michael Owen.
But in his immediate post-race interview on ITV with Sun Racing columnist Matt Chapman, Murphy reported some horses had slipped during the race.
Stewards applied 3mm of water to the track overnight.
He said: “There were a few slips in the race. We’ll be going to the stewards room and I’ll have a chat with the clerk of the course.
“You don’t want to see horses slipping.”
Speaking on Sky Sports, former jockey Seb Sanders said: “The fact that three jockeys have complained makes it a concern.
“If we carry on and something happens we’re there to be shot at and we don’t want to see anyone or any horse get injured.”
Tom Marquand and Jason Watson were among the other riders not happy with the conditions.
Watson said: “It’s not ideal, I lost the horse’s back end and I had to do what was right by the horse.
“A few of the boys said they slipped up after the line.
“The whole track is going to need a good look at.
“You can’t always tell, the ground is nice enough. I don’t know why it’s the way it is but we need to do something about it.”
ITV cameras showed a tractor on track spraying sand in a bid to make it safer.
Racing has officially been delayed by 20 minutes at the time of writing.
More to follow.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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