2025 Ormonde Stakes Tips - Willie's star can claim second Chester success

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: 07 May 2025

Jon Vine 07 May 2025

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Odds and betting predictions for the 2025 Ormonde Stakes
This Group Three takes place at Chester on Thursday 8th May
Absurde is our selection at 15/8

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The Ormonde Stakes at Chester. (Getty)

The second day of Chester's May Festival is headlined by the Ormonde Stakes. Many talented middle-distances horses have claimed victory in this Group Three down the years, and horses who impress often go on to contest big races at Epsom and Ascot the following month.

Here's our free guide to the 2025 Ormonde Stakes, including our best betting tips.

2025 Ormonde Stakes Odds

Name	Odds
Illinois	5/4
Absurde	15/8
Al Qareem	11/2
Roaring Legend	18/1
Mondo Man	25/1
Mount Atlas	40/1

2025 Ormonde Stakes Runners

Aidan O'Brien boasts an excellent record in this Group Three and he'll be represented by Illinois on Thursday. An impressive winner of the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, O'Brien's colt finished a close second in the Grand Prix de Paris, the Great Voltigeyr and the St Leger last season, before rounding his campaign off with an easy victory in the Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp.

Willie Mullins came close to landing the Ormonde with Wicklow Brave a few years ago and he's entered last year's Chester Stakes winner, Absurde. Al Qareem also claimed Listed honours on the Roodee last term and returns to Chester on the back of a solid victory in the Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham.

Hugo Palmer runs Roaring Legend, who racked up a hat-trick on the all-weather earlier this year. Gary and Josh Moore are represented by Mondo Man, who was rated 110 on the flat in France and has run over hurdles three times this year. The sixth and final entrant is Andrew Balding's all-weather specialist, Mount Atlas.

2025 Ormonde Stakes Tips

From his last six runners in the Ormonde Stakes, Aidan O'Brien has notched up three winners, a second and a third. Given that record, it might be foolish to take on Illinois, who boasts genuine Group One form from last season. However, I'm really keen on ABSURDE (15/8), who'll be getting five pounds from the favourite at the weight and three pounds from the dangerous Al Qareem.

Willie Mullins' seven-year-old relished the challenges of Chester when scoring in the Chester Stakes at the end of August. Absurde then travelled down to Australia for his second crack at the Melbourne Cup, and ran another excellent race to finish a very close fifth.

Mullins' star couldn't quite defend his County Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing three length adrift of stablemate Kargese in third. Absurde bounced back to winning ways at Plumpton 18 days ago, thrashing a quality field with an imperious performance.

William Buick's mount returns to the flat after a career-best effort over jumps. He's fit, proven around the track and holds a significant advantage at the weights. Good ground will be ideal for Absurde too. He has plenty going in his favour.