ITV Racing Tips on May 6th - Wednesday's selections at Chester
Wednesday marks the start of the 2026 Chester May Festival, featuring major Epsom Classic trials and several competitive handicaps. The article provides expert betting tips for the featured ITV races, highlighting Final Appeal in the Lily Agnes Stakes, Brighton Boy in the Earl Grosvenor Handicap, and Watcha Snoop in the American Holidays Handicap as key picks. The Cheshire Oaks is considered too uncompetitive to tip, while further analysis is available for the Chester Vase. Bettors are encouraged to factor in course experience, recent form, and the draw when making selections.
- Free tips for the ITV races on Wednesday 6th May
- Chester's May Festival begins on Wednesday
- Brighton Boy and Watcha Snoop feature in our ITV selections
- ITV Racing Schedule
- 1:30pm Chester - Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes Tips
- 2:05pm Chester - Earl Grosvenor Handicap Tips
- 2:35pm Chester - Cheshire Oaks Tips
- 3:05pm Chester - Chester Vase Tips
- 3:40pm Chester - American Holidays Handicap Tips
Wednesday's Tips
One of the highlights of the early flat season begins on Wednesday, as Chester hosts the 2026 May Festival. Several Epsom Classic trials will be run on the opening day, along with the Lily Agnes Stakes and a couple of good handicaps.
Here are my best betting tips for Wednesday's ITV races at Newmarket.
ITV Racing Schedule
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 1:30pm | CAA Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes (Class 2) 5f |
| 2:05pm | Join Ladbrokes Bet 5 Get 30 Earl Grosvenor Handicap (Class 2) 7½f |
| 2:35pm | Weatherbys Cheshire Oaks (Listed Race) 1m3½f |
| 3:05pm | Boodles Chester Vase Stakes (Group 3) 1m4½f |
| 3:40pm | American Holidays Handicap (Class 3) 6f |
ITV Racing Tips - Wednesday 6th May
1:30pm Chester - Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes Tips
Karl Burke claimed his first victory in the Lily Agnes Stakes 12 months ago, and FINAL APPEAL (3/1) looks to have a good chance of helping him claim back-to-back wins.
Burke's youngster ran well on debut at Nottingham last month, losing out by just a head to Rotelle in a blanket finish. Final Appeal then got off the mark with a straightforward novice success at Wolverhampton, making all under Pierre-Louis Jamin before stretching clear to win by almost four lengths.
Runner-up Noble Raider ran well in a good maiden at Newmarket last week, and third-placed Blackberry Bold - who only finished half a length behind Final Appeal at Nottingham - was left trailing eight lengths in the winner's wake.
Clifford Lee's mount will have to be alert out of the stalls again from stall four, as Wait Geordie and Adonius are drawn lower than him and both will want to lead. However, I do feel that Final Appeal is the classiest juvenile in this contest, and he'll be hard to pass once he gets to the front.
2:05pm Chester - Earl Grosvenor Handicap Tips
A wide draw out in stall 12 could prove a stumbling block, but BRIGHTON BOY (28/1) knows his way around Chester, having run well on all three of his previous starts on the Roodee.
Brighton Boy won his novice at this venue in 2024 and was narrowly beaten behind Showering in July of last year. Tim Easterby's recruit then claimed his second course win in a Class 4 seller here in September, seeing out seven-and-a-half furlongs strongly to beat Empirestateofmind.
On his first outing for Easterby at Thirsk, Brighton Boy failed to make much progress from off the pace and crossed the line a five-length seventh. Duran Fentiman's mount should benefit from that return to action, and Brighton Boy's course form has to give him a chance.
2:35pm Chester - Cheshire Oaks Tips
Nothing for me in the Cheshire Oaks. I don't really want to take I'm The One on, and there's no scope for an each-way punt with just five runners in the field.
3:05pm Chester - Chester Vase Tips
Read our full guide to the 2026 Chester Vase to find out who we've backed in Wednesday's Epsom Derby trial.
Visit our Chester Vase Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Wednesday's races via a mobile or tablet.
3:40pm Chester - American Holidays Handicap Tips
Hugo Palmer will be desperate for a strong start to the May Festival, and runs three in this six-furlong handicap. Jason Watson will spring from stall six aboard WATCHA SNOOP (7/1), who was highly tried during the autumn.
Palmer's charge didn't make his debut under the end of August, finishing second behind the hugely impressive Words Of Truth on the July Course at Newmarket. Watcha Snoop then made all to claim a maiden success at Ascot, seeing out the trip well to beat a couple of rivals rated in the mid-80s.
Watcha Snoop was then drawn in stall one in the Mill Reef Stakes, and was eased down with two furlongs to travel as Words Of Truth got the better of Into The Sky. A gelding operation followed after that limp display, but Watchna Snoop was unlucky with the draw again in the juvenile conditions stakes on Champions Day, finishing tenth of 11 having struggled to find cover from the widest stall of all.
Watson will be pleased with the draw on this occasion, and I'd be surprised if Watcha Snoop wasn't better than this opening handicap mark of 85.
Verdict
Wednesday's Tips for Chester:
Final Appeal
1:30pm Chester
@3/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £40
in free bets
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Watcha Snoop
3:40pm Chester
@7/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS
Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad
Brighton Boy E/W
2:05pm Chester
@28/1 - 5 Units
Bet £20 Get £10
Use promo code NEWBONUS
18+ New customers only. Bet £20 (or more) EVS (2.0) or greater Get 2 x £5 Free Bets. 1 x £5 Free Bet paid automatically & following £5 Free Bet after 24hrs. Min Free Bet odds 4/1 (5.0) on accumulators Trebles & upwards. Expires after 24hrs. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
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