G3 Boodles Chester Vase

Already Derby favourite prior to Wednesday's G3 Boodles Chester Vase, Ballydoyle's Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) ensured that it will take something special over the next few days to deny him that position on the first Saturday in June. Making it a dozen renewals for Aidan O'Brien in the extended 12-furlong trial, the 2-9 favourite had several lengths to make up on the aggressively-ridden stablemate Proposition (Frankel) but was able to subdue him in the short straight and register a 4 1/4-length success in a very fast 2:35.22. Mr Colonel completed the Frankel...

There was a tragic postscript to Wednesday's G3 Boodles Chester Vase as Godolphin's Hidden Law (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) broke down shortly past the line having registered an emphatic success in the often-crucial Derby trial. Racing in fourth for the most part under William Buick, the Charlie Appleby-trained son of Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) stormed by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Agenda (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 150 yards out en route to a three-length success before his cruel fatal injury. Runner-up on debut to Juddmonte's Cadogan Place (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at Southwell...

Juddmonte's €440,000 Goffs November foal Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Nisriyna {Ire}, by Intikhab) closed his four-race juvenile campaign with a second in October's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and made a winning sophomore return under a Frankie Dettori masterclass in Wednesday's G3 Boodles Chester Vase. Maintaining a three-wide passage off the rail and racing on fresher ground in second for most of this G1 Derby trial, the 10-11 favourite was sent to the front leaving the half-mile pole behind and stayed on strongly thereafter, crossing the line underneath the stands' side rail,...