LAST YEAR’S CHESTER VASE

Like many of the major races, Aidan O’Brien has an amazing record in this contest, and here he was able to make it eight wins out of the last ten. Ryan Moore who was aboard seven of those, took the reins again here.

After missing out last year to Andrew Balding’s Youth Spirit, O’Brien was quick to respond, entering the classy Changingoftheguard. Balding was back again too, this time with the relatively unfancied Berkshire Rebel, who despite debut success at Goodwood, had largely flattered to deceive in the build up to this contest. While last year’s winning jockey Tom Marquand took the reins of Savvy Victory. The ever-dangerous Charlie Appleby and William Buick pairing proved the main danger however, with the unbeaten New London arriving off the back of two back-to-back success at Newmarket.

This contest always appeared to be a two-horse race, and the betting certainly reflected that with New London a clear favourite at 4/11 while rival Changingoftheguard was 100/30. Despite their early push, Savvy Victory and Berkshire Rebel were never a factor in this one, finding themselves outpaced by the leading duo. The race looked set for an edge of your seat conclusion, but Changingoftheguard had other ideas. Around the two-furlong mark, the colt seemed to find even more and increased the tempo further and despite his best efforts, New London just could not match him. O’Brien’s son of Galileo flying to a six and a half-length victory.

With the winner booking his place in the Derby, he ended up finishing a decent fifth behind winner Desert Crown but has since bounced back when taking the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot in June.