Fairytales at Chester & Lingfield’s Friendly

We’re now into full swing for the Epsom Trials after Chester and Lingfield. And it leaves with more questions with answers after a few upsets.

The Chester Oaks was a Fairy double with Forest Fairy and Port Fairy finishing in the first two positions. Under the guidance of Rossa Ryan, Forest Fairy came down the centre of the course and just managed to beat Port Fairy by a head to set her on course for Epsom’s Friday feature.

Straight after was the Chester Vase, the highlight trial for the Derby, made famous following Shergar’s victory in 1981. This year we thought we saw a true contender in Hidden Law, scorching away to beat the O’Brien duo of Agenda and Grosvenor Square.

However, straight after the line Hidden Law broke down after the line, suffering a fatal injury whilst pulling up. Our thoughts are with all the team at Godolphin and Charlie Appleby’s stable.

Moving onto Thursday, the Dee Stakes serves as another Derby Trial, but very rarely have winners of this race gone on to win the Epsom feature.

Capulet for Ryan Moore and O’Brien made all to win beating Fielden Stakes winner, and favourite, Jayarebe.

In the races for the older horses, Point Lonsdale made it a double on the day for Ballydoyle and a treble for Moore in the Ormonde.

Friday was all about the stayers with the Chester Cup taking centre stage. Last year’s runner up, Zoffee, managed to chase down leader Aztec Empire and fend off Emiyn to win Chester’s feature.

In the Huxley Stakes, Passenger was touted by the Sir Michael Stoute stable to go well in his four-year-old season after only winning the Winter Hill at Windsor at three. He finished third in the Dante last season and was a little slow into stride and held up for much of the mile-and-a-quarter-trip.

Turning for home, Israr went first but was immediately challenged by Passenger, who took the race by the scruff of the neck and won readily on his first start back.

On Saturday, we travelled South for the Lingfield Trials, which hasn’t produced an Epsom classic winner since 2019.

Danielle was the hot favourite after an electric debut at Wetherby for the Gosden's, but the field and herself got no where near to You Got To Me.

Setting the pace, You Got To Me kept galloping and was clear at the furlong pole when she began to tire. Rubied Are Red and Danielle challenged hard, but the line came in time for You Got To Me.

Ambiente Friendly was considered an outsider of the Derby Trial, but didn’t act like one when crossing the line almost five lengths in front of the favourite Illinois.

As the Epsom Classic picture begins to fog, next week York’s Dante meeting could give us some help.