Racecards
15:15 Chester
Chester Vase Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 63y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £80,000 added
- Winner: £45,368
- 2nd: £17,200
- 3rd: £8,608
- 4th: £4,288
- Form 121-5
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 106
tracked leaders, headway 3f out, led 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost second close home
- Form 4-11
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey L Dettori
in rear throughout, tailed off over 2f out
- Form 15-3
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
prominent, pushed along over 3f out, lost position over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 31-6
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey R L Moore
held up, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 2f out, ran on well and went second inside final 110 yards, never nearer
Wirko (GER)
15- Form 21-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 103
led, increased tempo 4f out, headed 2f out, weakened quickly from over 1f out
- Form 413-4
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Tom Marquand
tracked leaders, short of room over 2f out, went second over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden out close home
- Form 1237-69
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Non Runner
NonRunner
In depth
Verdict
Gowran maiden winner Sandhurst didn't impress in the Craven Stakes though should do much better over this trip. Fancy Man gained both successes last summer on soft ground at Haydock and will have found fast going at Newmarket against him last month but WIRKO needed every yard of the 1m2f Blue Riband Trial at Epsom. The Godolphin colt is bred for this trip and looks the one to beat as Law Of The Sea is taking a big leap in class after novice victories at Kempton and Leicester. Soft-ground winner Pleasant Man disappointed at Windsor though is another certain to be suited by the extra along with Youth Spirit, though more rain would help the cause of both.
Formwatch
Fancy Man (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 8, 9 1/4l behind Highland Avenue (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 1f lst stks (1) gd in Apr.
Law Of The Sea 10-11fav (9-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5f out, led on bit 2f out, easily, won at Leicester 1m 4f stks (4) gf in Apr beating Gustav Holst (9-2) by 4l, 7 ran.
Pleasant Man 5-6fav (9-9) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Lord Protector (9-9) at Windsor 1m 2f stks (5) gd in Apr.
Sandhurst (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Held up off the pace in last trio, pushed along and headway out wide chasing leaders 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 6th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Master Of The Seas (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Wirko (GER) 11-2 (9-1) Close up, pushed along 2f out, headway inside final furlong, ran on to lead close home, won at Epsom 1m 2f lst (1) gd in Apr beating Technique (8-10) by hd, 8 ran.
Youth Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Highland Avenue (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 1f lst stks (1) gd in Apr.
San Martino (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Pushed along briefly early, soon disputed lead, led halfway, joined 1 1/2f out, soon headed and no extra inside final furlong, 9th of 13, 9 1/2l behind Sir Lamorak (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gd in Apr.
Sir Lamorak (IRE) 9-4fav (9-7) Waited with, 11th halfway, soon towards rear, headway and effort straight, led 1f out, soon edged left and quickly asserted and stayed on well, easily, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gd in Apr beating Bear Story (9-5) by 3 3/4l, 13 ran.