Horse Racing: Doctor makes bookies sick in Chester Vase

May 9 2008 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

DOCTOR Fremantle won the Bank of America Chester Vase leaving punters no clearer on the Epsom Derby picture yesterday.

The Vase is usually an indicator of the Derby running but the 11-8 runner, carrying jockey Ryan Moore, is not entered into the Epsom race, instead he is running in the King Edward VII.

Pampas Cat was leading the running but was pegged back by the winner and 10-1 shot All The Aces. Doctor Fremantle triumphed by half a length.

The Bank of Ireland Handicap Stakes went to Mull of Dubai after Philanthropey and Bahar Shumaal set a blistering early pace which neither could sustain. Mull won by a length.

Maraahel was beaten by a neck in the Grant Thornton Huxley Stakes by 12-1 shot Championship Point and the Halifax Handicap handed Barry Hills his second win of the May Festival courtesy of 15-2 shot Huzzah.

“This is a horse that wants to give,” said Hills. “He hung on and he’s tough.”

Hills first winner was on Wednesday as Daraahem, sent off the 11-8 favourite, took a smooth two-length victory in the Boodles Diamond Maiden Stakes.

In perfect conditions and in front of 17,960 racegoers, 33-1 outsider Bulwark won the £120,000 totesport.com Chester Cup ridden by Jim Crowley.

Top class fillies contested the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks for the Robert Sangster Memorial Cup and the 9-4 favourite Sail duly obliged by half a length.

Paddy Power shortened Sail from 66-1 to 14-1 for the Oaks at Epsom after the victory and second home, Sugar Mint is available at 20-1 from 25-1.

In the Joseph Heler Cheese Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes, 3-1 shot Doncaster Rover duly responded to Frankie Dettori to score by one and a quarter lengths from Aspen Darlin.

Bertoliver, sent off at 12-1, earned a comfortable one-and-a-half length win for Philip Robinson in the Breitling Watches and Waltons of Chester Handicap Stakes.

Day one closed with the Walker Smith Way Handicap and a victory for 4-1 shot Allied Powers ridden by Jamie Spencer. The partnership came on wide to gallop clear of the field by two and three quarter lengths.

Today is City Day at Chester Racecourse featuring the £65,000 Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes.

Unnefer is nominated to continue Henry Cecil’s run of success, his charge has trained well as evidenced by a success at Newbury on his first outing of the season last month.

Older horses contest the Blue Square Ormonde Stakes. Raincoat has already opened his account with a half-length victory at Ripon two weeks ago and should feature in the closing stages of the this £75,000 group-three contest.

Dhaular Dhar bids to repeat his success of last year in the Warwick International Handicap, the Jim Goldie trained six-year-old ran on, having off the pace, in his seasonal debut at Newcastle last month and should be spot-on today.

The appropriately named Mey Blossom is short-listed for the Hawker Beechcraft Handicap, she won a handicap at Thirsk as a 40-1 outsider with Rose Siog coming third that day.

With two close-up seconds already this season Erlydoors may go one closer in the Alchem Merseyside Cheshire Regiment Maiden Fillies Stakes with the added advantage of being drawn in stall one.

Closing the festival is the Manor House Stables LLP Handicap. Tarporley-based trainer Richard Ford is responsible for Inspirina, a winner at Warwick last time out and could follow up again here.