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Racecourse statistics

Chester racecourse statistics

Every runner at Chester in our archive since May 2005: who wins here, how favourites fare, the biggest-priced winners, the draw and the angles that have paid at SP.

Figures as at 20 Oct 2026, 14:18 · last meeting in our archive 19 Sep 2026

Covers 4 May 2005 – 20 October 2026

2,063races · 304 meetings
18,064runners · 10,667 horses
30.8%favourites won · 699 of 2,267Last 12 months: 40.0% (48 of 120)
50/1biggest-priced winner · Good Morning Star (IRE)

In brief

as at 20 Oct 2026

Chester has staged 2,063 races over 304 meetings in our archive since May 2005, with 18,064 runners.

Favourites have won 30.8% of their runs here (699 from 2,267), a level-stakes P/L of −172.24 points to a £1 stake at SP.

Richard Fahey has the most winners here (147 from 1,244 runners, 11.8%). Among yards with 30 or more runners, A P O'Brien has the best win rate: 44.1% (52 from 118).

Franny Norton has the most winners here (138 from 922 rides, 15.0%). Among riders with 30 or more rides, Ryan Moore has the best win rate: 32.7% (68 from 208).

At trips under 6f in Flat races of 8 or more runners, the lowest third of the stalls has won 17.6% of its runs (649) and the highest third 5.7% (922).

3 angles here made a level-stakes profit at SP in both periods we test, on 100 or more runs.

Favourites and the market

by starting-price rank

Favourites have won 30.8% of their runs here (699 from 2,267), a level-stakes P/L of −172.24 points to a £1 stake at SP.

Position in the bettingRunsWonWin %£1 P/LFair A/E
FavouriteRuns 2,267Won 699Win 30.8%£1 −172.24A/E 1.08
2nd–3rd in the bettingRuns 4,186Won 703Win 16.8%£1 −547.81A/E 1.01
4th–6th in the bettingRuns 5,928Won 476Win 8.0%£1 −1,375.50A/E 0.95
7th or biggerRuns 5,683Won 186Win 3.3%£1 −2,160.50A/E 0.86

Favourites by going

GoingRunsWonWin %£1 P/LFair A/E
Good to FirmRuns 488Won 143Win 29.3%£1 −48.40A/E 1.02
GoodRuns 899Won 291Win 32.4%£1 −38.06A/E 1.13
Good to SoftRuns 508Won 152Win 29.9%£1 −63.00A/E 1.03
SoftRuns 307Won 87Win 28.3%£1 −35.56A/E 1.04
HeavyRuns 65Won 26Win 40.0%£1 +12.78A/E 1.35

Favourites include joint favourites. Dimmed rows have fewer than 30 runs. Fair A/E compares wins with a margin-stripped market expectation at SP. Favourite-heavy samples naturally read a few points warm, so 1.05 means "beat the margin-free market read", not "the market underrates this by 5%". £1 P/L is level stakes at SP.

Trainers

since 2005

Richard Fahey has the most winners here (147 from 1,244 runners, 11.8%). Among yards with 30 or more runners, A P O'Brien has the best win rate: 44.1% (52 from 118).

Most winners

TrainerRunsWonWin %£1 P/LFair A/E
Richard FaheyRuns 1,244Won 147Win 11.8%£1 −228.76A/E 0.97
Andrew BaldingRuns 640Won 138Win 21.6%£1 +126.12A/E 1.26
Mark JohnstonRuns 668Won 101Win 15.1%£1 −60.50A/E 1.02
Tom DascombeRuns 656Won 82Win 12.5%£1 −203.10A/E 1.05
Tim EasterbyRuns 560Won 56Win 10.0%£1 −182.58A/E 1.01
Hugo PalmerRuns 324Won 53Win 16.4%£1 −19.14A/E 1.32
A P O'BrienRuns 118Won 52Win 44.1%£1 +64.29A/E 1.57
William HaggasRuns 181Won 46Win 25.4%£1 −22.52A/E 1.10
Ian WilliamsRuns 502Won 46Win 9.2%£1 −61.49A/E 0.98
David EvansRuns 515Won 44Win 8.5%£1 −127.74A/E 0.98

Ordered by winners here; a tie goes to the fewer runners.

Best win %

TrainerRunsWonWin %£1 P/LFair A/E
A P O'BrienRuns 118Won 52Win 44.1%£1 +64.29A/E 1.57
Sir Mark Prescott BtRuns 48Won 13Win 27.1%£1 −0.64A/E 1.43
William HaggasRuns 181Won 46Win 25.4%£1 −22.52A/E 1.10
James FanshaweRuns 34Won 8Win 23.5%£1 +1.58A/E 1.31
Sir Michael StouteRuns 170Won 39Win 22.9%£1 −45.72A/E 1.02
Michael JarvisRuns 50Won 11Win 22.0%£1 +5.25A/E 1.29
Andrew BaldingRuns 640Won 138Win 21.6%£1 +126.12A/E 1.26
Ed McMahonRuns 56Won 12Win 21.4%£1 +1.75A/E 1.48
Alan KingRuns 61Won 13Win 21.3%£1 +32.41A/E 1.59
John GosdenRuns 118Won 25Win 21.2%£1 −22.99A/E 1.02

Ordered by win rate, among those with 30 or more runners here; a tie goes to the bigger sample.

Beat the market

TrainerRunsWonWin %£1 P/LFair A/E
Bernard LlewellynRuns 93Won 11Win 11.8%£1 +42.71A/E 1.86
Alan KingRuns 61Won 13Win 21.3%£1 +32.41A/E 1.59
A P O'BrienRuns 118Won 52Win 44.1%£1 +64.29A/E 1.57
Jennie CandlishRuns 122Won 16Win 13.1%£1 +3.08A/E 1.49
Ed McMahonRuns 56Won 12Win 21.4%£1 +1.75A/E 1.48
Donald McCainRuns 102Won 11Win 10.8%£1 +21.58A/E 1.48
James GivenRuns 79Won 11Win 13.9%£1 −4.88A/E 1.47
Bryan SmartRuns 69Won 12Win 17.4%£1 −8.87A/E 1.44
Julie CamachoRuns 65Won 11Win 16.9%£1 +4.50A/E 1.40
Ruth CarrRuns 104Won 12Win 11.5%£1 −6.00A/E 1.35

Ordered by fair A/E, among those with 50 or more runners at a fair price here: above 1.00, their winners came at bigger prices than the margin-free market expected.

£1 P/L is level stakes at SP. Dimmed rows have fewer than 30 runners.

Jockeys

since 2005

Franny Norton has the most winners here (138 from 922 rides, 15.0%). Among riders with 30 or more rides, Ryan Moore has the best win rate: 32.7% (68 from 208).

Most winners

JockeyRunsWonWin %£1 P/LFair A/E
Franny NortonRuns 922Won 138Win 15.0%£1 −105.59A/E 1.08
Richard KingscoteRuns 510Won 78Win 15.3%£1 −84.48A/E 1.05
Ryan MooreRuns 208Won 68Win 32.7%£1 +14.34A/E 1.41
David ProbertRuns 356Won 56Win 15.7%£1 −45.79A/E 1.13
Paul HanaganRuns 309Won 42Win 13.6%£1 −31.72A/E 1.08
Joe FanningRuns 266Won 38Win 14.3%£1 −37.46A/E 1.18
Jason HartRuns 235Won 34Win 14.5%£1 −33.60A/E 1.14
Silvestre De SousaRuns 232Won 33Win 14.2%£1 −24.76A/E 1.02
J F EganRuns 305Won 32Win 10.5%£1 −23.25A/E 1.07
Oisin MurphyRuns 161Won 26Win 16.1%£1 −31.20A/E 0.99

Ordered by winners here; a tie goes to the fewer rides.

Best win %

JockeyRunsWonWin %£1 P/LFair A/E
Ryan MooreRuns 208Won 68Win 32.7%£1 +14.34A/E 1.41
Harry BentleyRuns 62Won 15Win 24.2%£1 +13.01A/E 1.69
Richard HillsRuns 50Won 12Win 24.0%£1 −5.01A/E 1.15
Callum HutchinsonRuns 32Won 7Win 21.9%£1 +11.66A/E 1.50
Adam McNamaraRuns 37Won 8Win 21.6%£1 +6.16A/E 1.61
Eddie AhernRuns 90Won 18Win 20.0%£1 +42.29A/E 1.56
Tadhg O'SheaRuns 65Won 13Win 20.0%£1 +1.67A/E 1.59
Hector CrouchRuns 58Won 11Win 19.0%£1 +2.41A/E 1.58
Frankie DettoriRuns 74Won 14Win 18.9%£1 −10.84A/E 1.06
Martin HarleyRuns 59Won 11Win 18.6%£1 +15.46A/E 1.43

Ordered by win rate, among those with 30 or more rides here; a tie goes to the bigger sample.

Beat the market

JockeyRunsWonWin %£1 P/LFair A/E
Harry BentleyRuns 62Won 15Win 24.2%£1 +13.01A/E 1.69
Tadhg O'SheaRuns 65Won 13Win 20.0%£1 +1.67A/E 1.59
Hector CrouchRuns 58Won 11Win 19.0%£1 +2.41A/E 1.58
Zak WheatleyRuns 56Won 8Win 14.3%£1 +25.08A/E 1.57
Cam HardieRuns 77Won 7Win 9.1%£1 −10.25A/E 1.57
Eddie AhernRuns 90Won 18Win 20.0%£1 +42.29A/E 1.56
Hayley TurnerRuns 120Won 21Win 17.5%£1 +27.46A/E 1.48
Jane ElliottRuns 66Won 9Win 13.6%£1 −10.69A/E 1.45
Martin HarleyRuns 59Won 11Win 18.6%£1 +15.46A/E 1.43
Ryan MooreRuns 208Won 68Win 32.7%£1 +14.34A/E 1.41

Ordered by fair A/E, among those with 50 or more rides at a fair price here: above 1.00, their winners came at bigger prices than the margin-free market expected.

£1 P/L is level stakes at SP. Dimmed rows have fewer than 30 rides.

Course specialists

3+ wins here

Roman Dragon (GB) has won here 8 times from 26 runs, more than any other horse since May 2005.

Biggest-priced winners

at starting price

The biggest-priced winner here since May 2005 was Good Morning Star (IRE) at 50/1 on 9 May 2012.

The draw

Flat, 8+ runners

At trips under 6f in Flat races of 8 or more runners, the lowest third of the stalls has won 17.6% of its runs (649) and the highest third 5.7% (922).

Under 6f

StallsRunsWonWin %Place %Fair A/E
Low thirdRuns 649Won 114Win 17.6%Place 43.1%A/E 1.20
Middle thirdRuns 740Won 64Win 8.6%Place 31.2%A/E 0.89
High thirdRuns 922Won 53Win 5.7%Place 19.8%A/E 0.83

6f – 7f

StallsRunsWonWin %Place %Fair A/E
Low thirdRuns 1,839Won 237Win 12.9%Place 35.2%A/E 1.03
Middle thirdRuns 2,033Won 195Win 9.6%Place 29.3%A/E 0.98
High thirdRuns 2,541Won 180Win 7.1%Place 23.6%A/E 0.98

1m2f – 1m4f

StallsRunsWonWin %Place %Fair A/E
Low thirdRuns 961Won 119Win 12.4%Place 35.0%A/E 1.03
Middle thirdRuns 1,093Won 103Win 9.4%Place 31.5%A/E 0.90
High thirdRuns 1,394Won 131Win 9.4%Place 27.0%A/E 1.06

1m5f – 2m

StallsRunsWonWin %Place %Fair A/E
Low thirdRuns 284Won 32Win 11.3%Place 29.2%A/E 1.05
Middle thirdRuns 326Won 35Win 10.7%Place 34.4%A/E 1.00
High thirdRuns 427Won 38Win 8.9%Place 28.1%A/E 0.96

2m1f – 2m4f

StallsRunsWonWin %Place %Fair A/E
Low thirdRuns 134Won 13Win 9.7%Place 32.8%A/E 1.13
Middle thirdRuns 152Won 8Win 5.3%Place 25.0%A/E 0.79
High thirdRuns 191Won 10Win 5.2%Place 15.7%A/E 1.06

Stall number as a share of the field: low is the lowest third of the stalls. Flat races with 8 or more runners. Fair A/E near 1.00 means the market had already priced the draw in.

Angles that have paid

at SP, two periods

Past results at starting price, not a forecast. Each angle made a £1 level-stakes profit in both periods (Jan 2005 – Sep 2021, and since Oct 2021), with at least 100 SP-priced runs and 10 winners in all, and is still in profit with its single biggest winner taken out. The same on every view of this page.

  • Runners by Dandy Man (IRE) (sire)+27.4% ROI · +53.42 pts from 195 runs · 30 winners (15.4%)Jan 2005 – Sep 2021: +9.4% on 112 · Since Oct 2021: +51.7% on 83 · without the biggest winner (20/1): +32.42 pts
  • Rides by Kevin Stott+26.0% ROI · +26.25 pts from 101 runs · 16 winners (15.8%)Jan 2005 – Sep 2021: +30.3% on 54 · Since Oct 2021: +21.1% on 47 · without the biggest winner (22/1): +3.25 pts
  • Runners trained by Andrew Balding+19.7% ROI · +126.12 pts from 640 runs · 138 winners (21.6%)Jan 2005 – Sep 2021: +21.6% on 404 · Since Oct 2021: +16.5% on 236 · without the biggest winner (20/1): +105.12 pts

Quick answers

How do favourites do at Chester?

Favourites (joint favourites included) have won 699 of 2,267 runs at Chester since May 2005 — 30.8%, a £1 level-stakes P/L of −172.24 points at SP (as at 20 Oct 2026).

Which trainer has the most winners at Chester?

Richard Fahey, with 147 winners from 1,244 runners (11.8%) since May 2005.

Which jockey has ridden the most winners at Chester?

Franny Norton, with 138 winners from 922 rides (15.0%) since May 2005.

Which trainer has the best strike rate at Chester?

Among yards with 30 or more runners here since May 2005, A P O'Brien has the best win rate: 44.1% (52 from 118).

Which jockey has the best strike rate at Chester?

Among riders with 30 or more rides here since May 2005, Ryan Moore has the best win rate: 32.7% (68 from 208).

Which horses have won most at Chester?

The leading course winners since May 2005: Roman Dragon (GB) (8 from 26), Copper Knight (IRE) (6 from 17), Gabrial The Tiger (IRE) (6 from 26).

What is the biggest-priced winner at Chester?

Good Morning Star (IRE) at 50/1 on 9 May 2012 in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks (For The Robert Sangster Memorial Cup) (Fillies' Listed) — the biggest starting price among Chester winners since May 2005.

Is there a draw bias at Chester?

At trips under 6f in Flat races of 8 or more runners since May 2005, runners drawn in the lowest third of the stalls have won 114 of 649 runs (17.6%) and those in the highest third 53 of 922 (5.7%). Fair A/E 1.20 low against 0.83 high says how much of that the market had already priced.

About Chester

checked October 2026

Layout and key facts

  • Where: The Roodee, beside the city walls in the centre of Chester — Flat only, turf.
  • Shape: Left-handed and tight, about 1m1f round and turning almost the whole way; the home straight is about 239 yards, the shortest in Britain.
  • Starts: The 5f start is on the bend; the 7f and mile starts have only a short run to the first turn.
  • Season: Early May to September, opening with the three-day May Festival.

Going and the seasons

  • May: The May Festival is most often run on good or good to firm ground; the course is watered in dry spells.
  • Summer: Evening meetings through the summer usually race on good ground; the bends and cambers ride differently after rain.

Signature races and fixtures

  • May Festival (three days): The Chester Cup (about 2m2f handicap), the Chester Vase (about 1m4f), the Dee Stakes (about 1m2f), the Huxley Stakes (about 1m2f) and the Ormonde Stakes (about 1m5f).

Practical notes

  • Getting there: A walk from the city centre and from Chester station; parking is limited on Festival days.
  • Viewing: The whole circuit is in view from the stands and from the city walls above the course.

These notes are written and checked by KTB (last checked October 2026); the statistics above are computed from our results archive. Check the course's own site for fixtures, going and travel before you go.