sports
A Piece Of Heaven returns Chester to even keel after ground chaos
Chester Cup provided fine finale after festival was saved by repairs after horses slipped in Thursday’s opener
TL;DR
- Chester's May festival was at risk of abandonment due to concerns about the turf's safety, with several jockeys reporting slips.
- Ground staff worked urgently to make repairs, allowing the races to continue after a delay.
- A Piece Of Heaven won the historic Chester Cup, providing a successful conclusion to the festival.
- The meeting featured promising performances in Classic trials, with horses like Benvenuto Cellini and Amelia Earhart emerging as favorites for the Derby and Oaks.
- Attendance at the May festival has seen a decline since 2019, but chief executive Louise Stewart anticipates a rise in the coming years.