East India Dock flies home for Chester Cup honours
It was Ryan Moore who set the fractions aboard Joseph O'Brien's Leinster and when the leading jockey allowed his mount to stride on passing the five-furlong marker on the second circuit, the four-year-old appeared full of running.
The field swarmed rounding the home turn with George Scott's progressive Caballo De Mar laying down a stern challenge and hitting the front a furlong out, but East India Dock was staying on with every stride as the 9-4 favourite turned Cheltenham Festival disappointment into Roodee delight.
🏆 East India Dock wins the Ladbrokes Chester Cup! 🏆
Harry Davies does it AGAIN!#ITVRacing | @ChesterRaces pic.twitter.com/2eK4xcKaJa
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 9, 2025
Owen's charge returned a length verdict over Caballo De Mar, with defending champion and Davies' old favourite Zoffee an honourable third, and the winning trainer was delighted to see a plan come together for his owners.
He said: 'He travelled lovely and hit his flat spot like he usually does but he stayed on well.
'Tim and Mr (Bill) Gredley had this plan and it's great that we have pulled it off. There are some big pots on the Flat and he's a lovely dual-purpose horse now.
'To win the Chester Cup is fantastic, we've hit the crossbar a few times coming here, but it's nice to have a winner here and we've won the big one.'
Davies told Sky Sports Racing: 'I'm very lucky to get the rides in this race I have and every time I have ridden in it I don't think I've had a bad ride.
'He got a good draw which always helps round here and he jumped good, I was able to hold my pitch and then he was gutsy. He stays well and had the perfect profile coming into the race.
'He loved that dead ground and while everything else was sort of half struggling, he just cruised on through – what a tough horse and I'm delighted for connections.
'He's a strong traveller and when horses have run over hurdles they learn how to relax better and in a race like this where you have to really rev them to hold their pitch, if they can then relax and drop the bridle there is nothing better.
'James has been very supportive of me and the Gredley Family have also been happy for me to ride their horses and I was delighted when I got the ride on this fella.'
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The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He's a stayer who won't be stopping' – Templegate's big 11-2 NAP on the final day of Goodwood
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GOODWOOD 1.20 ARABIAN CROWN was a solid third in a Newmarket Group 2 last time and the form has been franked here this week. He goes on any ground and sees out this trip. There's more to come from this four-year-old. Al Aasy won this last year and, while he's not the greatest battler, his class will see him close again. Candleford is seven now but looked as good as ever when taking a Beverley Listed prize last month. He likes this trip and William Haggas is in decent form. Meydaan was second on his last visit here in May and has been running well at Listed level without winning. Ryan Moore taking over is a plus but he needs a bit more to score. Ambiente Friendly hasn't fired this season and has been gelded since a poor effort at Royal Ascot. 1.55 SAM HAWKENS is a stayer on the up as he showed when scooting in over 1m5f at Hamilton last time. There was a bit of juice in the ground at the Scottish track and he wasn't stopping at the line. This is a hotter race but there's more to come. 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Elmonjed is another one high on the shortlist. Here's my guide to the big field, where I rate them 1 (worst) to 5 (best): ALZAHIR 3 HIR we go. Went off far too quick at York last time after three good wins. Goes on any ground and may bounce back at too big a price. ANNAF 3 AF a go. Big player at best but unreliable and slow away too often. Talented if getting a clean break but has a big weight. APOLLO ONE 3 ONE show. Twice second in this and always runs his race but probably needs a personal best to finally win it. CIRCE 4 YES Cir. Strong traveller with three wins this summer. Up in class but big field suits and Moore up. Handles soft. COMMANCHE FALLS 2 COM on. Dual winner of this race in his proime. Stable back in nick but latest form underwhelming. Hard to rule out, but needs best to hit the frame. COMPLETELY RANDOM 4 RAN raid. Good run in the Wokingham latest and will love the pace of this. Just the type to pop up in a race like this. DESERT COP 1 COP out. 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The ground was tacky on the July course but he went through it nicely and is open to improvement. In-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has a good record here and can go close again. Montpellier won a couple of maidens and ran well at Salisbury on handicap debut last time. There's more to come with this step up in distance a wise move. Consolidation was snookered by the draw at Royal Ascot but won over this course and distance two starts ago. It's early days and there should be a lot more to come. Mudbir is bred to be classy and scored on handicap debut at Sandown 28 days ago. He should progress from there from the Gosdens and looks a big player. Rare Change was hampered at Newcastle last time after winning at Pontefract. He likes this trip and has place claims. Yah Mo Be There ran well in the Jersey Stakes from a moderate draw and is another danger. NEWMARKET 2.10 SAYIDAH HARD SPUN has won two of her past three runs and saw out this trip well when scoring at Ascot last time. 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Leader Live
12 hours ago
- Leader Live
Jm Jungle surprises King George rivals
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Glasgow Times
12 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Jm Jungle surprises King George rivals
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