Shoemaker and Johnson? I was there and have the racecard somewhere. I was a Dick Hern nut and didn't back Troy!
Correct again. It was the first Derby I remember as a boy. Troy was quite awesome. Didn't Hern also train the Queens runner,Milford,who might well have gone off favourite?
Quite like Fire Fighting to break his Group level duck here at Chester if making the most of the draw handed to him. Sees his trip out well usually and hence could be difficult to pass. Western Hymn may become unbalanced around the right track given his style of running and head carriage, and Cannock Chase is conceding weight all around.
Yes Milford had won the Lingfield Derby Trial easily and Troy had just scrambled home in the Sandown Classic Trial (from Two of Diamonds) so many people were questioning whether Carson should ride Milford or Troy. Carson had been injured (he hadn't ridden Milford) but was fit enough to ride Troy in the Predominate, which he won easily. He chose Troy and later said it was no contest as it was a choice between a backstreet bruiser and stuck up snob: he chose the bruiser. Milford was beautifully bred being by Mill Reef out of the Queen's wonderful Highclere. He later showed he was a bit of a softy. Piggott got the ride on Milford and he started 9/2 favourite I think. Ela Mana Mou started 2nd favourite. Great race: well worth watching it on youtube.
Midterm is different class, cant believe he wasnt favourite after Sandown, he is now, will be 6/4 after the Dante.
Hard to get excited about that although they will no doubt have left plenty to work on. The second should have won that.
Elliott's horse was a right old pig-gave some of my On the Fringe punchy money straight back to the bookies there
What a great day, hopefully I can get some pics posted up tomorrow. Chester Vase was a bit of a farce, wasn't it? O'Brien looked nervous in the paddock before the race and he had it run to suit the winner. The weather was amazing, the betting not so impressive.
