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Day 1 – Chester 2010 May Races
“IF YOU WIN A CHESTER TRIAL, YOU GO TO EPSOM!”
TOTESPORT.COM CHESTER CUP DAY ON THE ROODEE
“If you win a Chester trial, you go to Epsom!” was the view expressed by trainer John Gosden following a win in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks with Gertrude Bell, bred by his wife Rachel Hood.
The Sinndar filly heads to Epsom next month for the Investec Oaks.
“She wants a truly run mile and half race, in the end it was a tactical sprint, we were in the right place, sitting on Hughies’ girth.
“We planned this race after Newbury last year, explained trainer John Gosden. The filly shortened in to 25-1 (from 33) with totesport for the fillies classic.
“It’s a good start,” commented local trainer Tom Dascombe following a pillar to post success with Julius Geezer in the Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes, sponsored by Manor House Stables where Dascombe trains.
“On the sales catalogue I wrote one word against this horse’s name – Chester! He’s always been a nice horse. This is an ideal track for a horse that breaks the gate and goes. He’s never stopped trying, that’s important.
“We’re thrilled to have a two-year-old winner, this was the ambition, we’ll sit down on Saturday and think about next week,” added Dascombe.
There was a photo finish to the totesport.com Chester Cup showing that 7-1 chance Mamlook had got up on the line for Richard Hughes to win the valuable prize by a head from top-weight Tastahil.
Cheshire-born part-owner Peter Deal was delighted, saying: “It’s wonderful, full marks to Hughsie, he was absolutely right and it was a brilliant ride. He had him in a wonderful position; I can’t tell you how thrilled we all are. This race has always been a target; it’s a proper heritage handicap.”
“That was great; we got the draw with him. He hit the gates and grabbed the rail. He’s done it well and it great to get a winner on the first day at Chester,” remarked trainer Kevin Ryan following a pillar to post success with Masamah in the Clatterbridge Cancer research Handicap Stakes.
“After a furlong you could nearly call him the winner; he’s track dependent and he loves going left-handed,” added Ryan.
Favourite backers collected following the running of the Bentley Motors Handicap Stakes and a win fr Alrasm Trained by Michael Jarvis and ridden by Richard Hills. The partnership notched up a quick double winning the Residence at HQ Maiden Stakes comfortably with Thaahira.
Chief Executive Richard Thomas said of the opening day of the Chester season: “We’re very pleased with operations today, the crowd may be slightly down today at 16,482 but tomorrow and Friday are both sold out.
“It was pleasing to have a local winner in the first race. The first and second horses home in the Cheshire Oaks are well thought of, the trainers are very bullish,” he added.
To provide fresh ground for Thursday, clerk of the course Ed Gretton said: “We’ll be moving the false rail out by three yards after racing today from the four furlong marker to the top of the home straight.”
Day 2 – Chester 2010 May Races
TED SPREADS CHESTER VASE JUBILATION ON LADIES DAY
Ted Spread earned his ticket to the Investec Epsom Derby next month with a gallant win in the MBNA Chester Vase today and was quoted at 33-1 (from 66) by Paddy Power bookmakers for the premier classic. Darryll Holland settled the hard-pulling colt and the only serious challenger in the straight was Icon Dream who had to settle for second place, by a head.
“I always thought he was a Leger horse and we came here for the ground, Darryll gave him a great ride. He had to wind him up and he’s outstayed them
“He got the idea late at Goodwood and he’s been working well with older horses at home. We’ll have to run him in the Derby now! It’s a funny track and they’ve got to have speed to win there,” remarked winning trainer Mark Tompkins.
The Cordjia Renaissance Handicap Stakes opened the card on Ladies Day. The race was won by Sweet Lightening who galloped down the centre of the track record a half-length winning margin. Trainer Malcolm Dods summed up the victory, saying: “He’s been working well at home and had a racecourse gallop at Ripon when Tom (eaves) rode him
“I said to Tom to sit closer today and rule out any unluckiness, when the gap came he did it well. The rain has got into the ground but it didn’t bother him, he’s got a great attitude
“He’s an improving horse who raced at all the big meetings and we might go the same route with him no that he’s got his head in front. The Zetland Cup and Magnet Cup are possibilities,” added Dods.
“Last year I rode him in Dubai, he likes it round here ahd he’s quite flexible ground wise, I’m very pleased. I jumped out to make it but I was happy to sit but I always felt I was going to hold on unless something came out of the clouds,” summarised jockey William Buick following success in the Betfair Huxley Stakes aboard the John Gosden trained Debussy.
The Roodee crowd cheered home the nose winner, Yaa Wayl, ridden by Philip Robinson, in the Boodles Diamond Eternity Handicap. Our Joe Mac was close-up second.
“The ground is getting cut up on the inside now. I had a bit of horse under me, I was able to get a nice seat and run into the straight, if the other horse had come at me, I’d have been able to go on,” was Robinson’s summary of the race.
Racing up the centre of the track provided the second leg of a double for jockey William Buick aboard the appropriately-named Dress Up in the Abode Hotel EBF Maiden Stakes. Buick reported: “I went for fresher ground down the middle of the track, she put her head down; she tried hard.”
“He ran at Newmarket and with the rain arriving we decided to run again before the handicapper reassesses him. The cut in the ground really suited him, he loved the conditions. He’s a charming horse for a lucky owner,” commented Michael Bell in the winners’ enclosure after success in the Stellar Group Handicap. Hayley Turner brought Horseradish down the middle of the track to gallop clear and win by two and a quarter lengths from Rule Of Nature.
Michael Dods and Tom Eaves celebrated a double when landing the CVAM Handicap Stakes with 25-1 outsider Thin Red Line
“He’s been working better at home over the last 10-days but we certainly didn’t expect that! He definitely has surprised us.
“The plan was to jump out but he travelled so well that Tom kicked on from the bend,” summarised Dods.
A crowd of 23,021 attended Ladies Day. Chief Executive Richard Thomas said: “We’re delighted, the crowd is up overall for the day but slightly down on the open course. The rain stopped in time for racing and we anticipate a bigger crowd tomorrow with a clear day. It’s always good when a trainer says a trial winner will go on to run in the classic.”
Further changes will be made to the track for racing tomorrow. Clerk of the Course Ed Gretton explained: “It’s predicted to be mostly dry tomorrow but we’ll move the rail out by five yards from the six-furlong marker to the top of the home straight to provide fresh racing ground.”
Day 3 -
AZMEEL DEE-LIGHTS DETTORI
Azmeel strengthened John Gosden’s Epsom classic prospects with a game half-length victory in the Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes and Frankie Dettori treated the Roodee crowd to his trade-mark flying dismount in the winners’ enclosure.
“He got a bump out of the gate but Frankie settled him then he was clipped into and that knocked him onto his off-fore, Frankie did well and got the job done
“There can be a lot of hurly burly in these races but he handled Chester well and there is no reason not to go to Epsom
“He’s come on but it’s been a difficult spring and we came here at 95%, we should have him spot on for the first week in June”
Winning jockey Frankie Dettori added: “They went a decent gallop, it suited him. He’s very versatile, very game
“He did everything right and showed great tenacity, he’s a typical Gosden horse!”
The win earned Azmeel antepost quotes of 16-1 (from 25s) with Boylesports.
Ryan Moore used the centre of the track to launch his winning run aboard the 8-13 favourite Harbinger in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes, with Age Of Aquarius Staying on into second place.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute commented: “He likes the track; he won here last year, he’s a well-balanced horse
“He’s a horse with a great mind, nothing fazes him and one and a half miles is his preferred distance.”
The Stoute Moore partnership completed a double in the highstreetvouchers.com Maiden Fillies Stakes with Safina, the 8-13 favourite.
“That was a workmanlike display, she’s a promising young filly, she’s only had three starts and we hope she might improve,” summarised Stoute.
City Day began with the SL Investment Management Earl Grosvenor Handicap Stakes and a late surge from the 25-1 outsider Autumn Blades overhauled Academy Blues by a neck.
Trainer Alan Bailey was delighted, saying: “He’s been bouncing at home but I wasn’t sure about him, he used to be a villain.
“The course suited him; he didn’t know where he was round the Chester bends! The horse travelled and he got a lead, they didn’t weaken
“I said to Franny, you can kid him, you’ve been kidding me for 25 years!”
The sportingbet.com Handicap Stakes resulted in a win for Jamie Spencer aboard Archers Road.
Winning trainer David Barron explained: “We bought the horse last year; he travelled very well and did it at the right end
“He’s won off a mark of 95 and we are limited where we can go with him.”
Spencer notched up a second win in the Boxes and Packaging Handicap Stakes with 10-1 shot Dance and Dance.
Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute celebrated a treble when Jedi stormed through to lead two out in the Cruise Nightspot Handicap and hold on from I’m In The Pink.
Friday attendance was 25,159 and as the three-day festival meeting closed, the reflections of Chief Executive Richard Thomas were:
“It’s been fantastic, to have attendance of nearly 65,000 over three-days, in these times. The crowd is very good-humoured.
“The highlight was Harbinger, it was great to see and he heads to the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“The new parade ring has moved the atmosphere closer to the crowd, it’s what we wanted to achieve.”
Grand National winning jockey Bob Champion visited Chester racecourse as part of his 60:60 charity challenge. Champion is visiting race meetings at all 60 racecourses in Britain in 60 days and travelled from Ffos Las this morning to Chester. To donate and purchase a raffle ticket for the prize draw visit www.champions6060.org.uk. All proceeds will be shared equally between the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Racing returns to the Roodee on Saturday, 22 May for Roman Day