Cookie’ Takes Ormonde S.

With the rain refusing to abate over Chester’s leaden skies, this renewal produced a finish akin to a national hunt spectacle with one of that sphere’s former gems Clever Cookie outbattling the penalized dual G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Tac de Boistron in a stirring finish. Already a smart performer over hurdles before besting Thursday’s G3 Huxley S. third Air Pilot (GB) (Zamindar) on his belated flat debut at Doncaster last April, he followed up in an extended 10-furlong handicap at York’s May meeting before dead-heating in that venue’s 14-furlong Listed Grand Cup at the end of the month. Staying on well when ninth and sixth respectively in York’s two premier handicaps, the John Smith’s Cup in July and Ebor in August, the bay was again doing his best work late when fourth to Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) in the G2 Doncaster Cup when last seen in September. Settled with one behind early with the bullseye on Tac de Boistron’s jockey Martin Harley’s back, he followed devoutly as that favorite cruised to the lead with three furlongs remaining. As the Chester crowd prepared to dine out on the Marco Botti star, Clever Cookie was staying in contention and grimly ground him down inside the last furlong for the upset. “Obviously the ground has played in our favor and he’s beaten a very good horse there,” trainer Peter Niven commented. “It’s his first run back and he’s not even half right to be fair to him. Our tactic was to go up the favorite’s backside and he’s very unfashionably bred and is the last of the family, but is a bit of a freak with infinite ability and a bottomless pit. He hasn’t been firing at home and was as dead as a doornail, but he’s come to this arena and loved it. I always thought he would like this place, with all the shouting around the rails and it’s brought him to life. He will run in the G1 Gold Cup [at Royal Ascot June 18] as long as it’s not good-to-firm, as I have to look after him and my main aim is the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup [at Ascot Oct. 17].”

Friday, Chester, Britain
BOODLES DIAMOND ORMONDE S.-G3, £100,000, CHE, 5-8, 4yo/up, 13f 89yT, 3:03.15, sf. 
1–@CLEVER COOKIE (GB), 126, g, 7, by Primo Valentino (Ire)
     1st Dam: Mystic Memory (GB), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Mountain Memory (GB), by High Top (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Forgotten Dreams (Fr), by Shoemaker (GB)
O-Francis Green Racing Ltd; B-Mrs J A Niven; T-Peter 
Niven; J-Graham Lee. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 
SW-Eng, 7-4-0-0, £99,573. Werk Nick Rating: A+. 
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 
2–Tac de Boistron (Fr), 133, g, 8, Take Risks (Fr)– 
Pondiki (Fr), by Sicyos. O-Australian Thoroughbred 
Bloodstock; B-Mme Isabelle Reverseau (Fr); T-Marco 
Botti. £21,500. 
3–Deuce Again (GB), 123, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Match 
Point (GB), by Unfuwain. O-Helena Springfield Ltd; 
B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. £10,760. 
Margins: 1 1/4, 6, 18. Odds: 8.00, 1.10, 8.00. 
Also Ran: Big Orange (GB), Windshear (GB), Aussie Reigns (Ire), Montefeltro (GB), Fattsota (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the brisnet.com PPs. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.