The Dee Stakes is a Listed race for three-year-old colts and geldings over ten furlongs.

The Dee Stakes is held on the 9th of May 2024.

It takes place on day 2 of the Chester May Festival and is a recognised trial for the Epsom Derby.

Kris Kin won both races in 2003 for Sir Michael Stoute while other notable winners include Sir Harry Lewis, Pentire and Oath.

Find out more about the Dee Stakes:

Race Overview – The Dee Stakes

Three-year-old colts and geldings can compete in the Listed Dee Stakes, a flat horse race held in Great Britain.

It is run at Chester Racecourse in May over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs, and 70 yards (2,076 metres).

The Dee Stakes takes place on Day 2 of the Boodles May Festival which is also Ladies Day.

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Famous Dee Stakes Winners

The Dee Stakes was first run in 1813 and was originally open to colts and fillies. The race was awarded Group 3 status in 1971 but was downgraded to a Listed race in 1988. Although the race is short of the Derby trip, it is still used as a possible stepping-stone to the Epsom Classic, notably by Aidan O’Brien.

1987 winner Sir Harry Lewis was trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Cash Asmussen. He defeated the odds-on favourite Shady Heights who had been touted for the Epsom Derby. Sir Harry Lewis took his chance in the Derby where he finished a creditable fourth at the odds of 66-1. John Reid took the reins for the Irish Derby where the colt held off a sustained challenge from Naheez to win by three-quarters of a length. Sir Harry Lewis made his name as a National Hunt stallion with his progeny including prolific winners Mighty Man, Diamond Harry and Restless Harry.

In 1995 the Dee Stakes was won by Pentire, trained by Geoff Wragg and ridden by Michael Hills. The colt had an outstanding three-year-old season, winning six of his seven races. His only defeat came in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes when second to Derby winner Lammtarra. Pentire would go one better the following season but ran below form in the Arc and the Japan Cup before retiring to stud.

The Dee Stakes produced two Derby winners within five seasons with Oath (1999) and Kris Kin (2003). Oath was trained by Henry Cecil and ridden by Kieren Fallon. Unfortunately, he returned lame after his next start in the King George and it was revealed that he had suffered a career-ending injury.

Fallon was also aboard Kris Kin at Epsom, although Fergal Lynch was the winning rider at Chester. Kris Kin was 20-1 outsider of four at Chester and unseated Lynch after passing the post. His victory encouraged his owners to supplement him for the Derby at a cost of £90,000 and his odds tumbled from 14-1 to 6-1 on the day. He finished third in the King George and was retired after finishing down the field in the Arc.

Dee Stakes Previous Winners

Here are the previous winners for the Dee Stakes.

Dee Stakes Previous Result

Here is the race result of the Dee Stakes horse race at Chester Racing Track.

Key Dee Stakes Trials

There is no real pattern to winners of the Dee Stakes with runners coming here from a wide variety of races.

The race usually features two or three Epsom Derby entries, often with very little form in the book from their juvenile season.

The lure of the Derby often proves irresistible to connections of the Dee Stakes winner, although Kris Kin (2003) remains the most recent horse to win both races. Cliffs Of Moher (2017) went very close but was caught close home by stable companion Wings Of Eagles.

Dee Stakes Betting Trends

There have been five winning outright favourites and one successful joint favourite in the past nine renewals of the Dee Stakes. Magician (2013), Kingfisher (joint-favourite 2014), Cliffs Of Moher (2017), Rostopovich (2018), Circus Maximus (2019) and Star Of India (2022) were the winning market leaders. All six were trained by Aidan O’Brien.

On the three occasions that the prize did not go to Ballydoyle, the results were less predictable. Not So Sleepy (2015) won at 11-1, Viren’s Army (2016) at 12-1 and El Drama (2021) also at 12-1.

Dee Stakes – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Barry Hills enjoyed incredible success in this race, winning it a record eleven times. His victories came with Golden Monad (1970), Our Mirage (1972), Natsun (1973), Ravel (1975), Two Of Diamonds (1979), Infantry (1985), Sir Harry Lewis (1987), Free Sweater (1989), Blue Stag (1990), Prolix (1998) and Sohaib (2002).

Although Hills has set the bar high, Aidan O’Brien is already closing in with nine winners in the Dee Stakes; Gypsy King (2005), Admiralofthefleet (2007), Astrology (2012), Magician (2013), Kingfisher (2014), Cliffs Of Moher (2017), Rostopovich (2018), Circus Maximus (2019) and Star Of India (2022).

Ryan Moore rode five of O’Brien’s winners and currently shares riding honours in the race with Lester Piggott and Willie Carson. Piggott’s last Dee Stakes winner was Ivano in 1982 while Carson gained his fifth and final victory aboard Blue Stag in 1990.

Betting on the Dee Stakes

The Dee Stakes is arguably the lesser Derby trial behind the Chester Vase but it can still provide Epsom clues. Aidan O’Brien likes to shuffle his colts around the trials including Leopardstown, Lingfield, Chester and York before finalising his Epsom plans. His entries are always worth noting here and it would be no surprise to see another live Derby candidate emerge from this race.

Dee Stakes Facts

• The Dee Stakes is a flat horse race in the United Kingdom open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older.
• It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs and 70 yards at Chester Racecourse, and it takes place annually in May.
• The race was first run in 1970.

Summary of Dee Stakes

The Dee Stakes is a race that takes place on Ladies Day at the Chester Festival, the other main of the day is the Ormonde Stakes.

We have looked at previous winners, tips, stats, betting and more, so you have all the info you need, whether placing a bet or simply watching the race.

Cheshire May Festival Information Articles