“Do the jump, Frankie boy,” someone shouted as Arrest returned after the Group Three Chester Vase on Wednesday, and for the final time on the Roodee, the winner’s jockey was happy to oblige. Frankie Dettori’s trademark flying dismount is normally reserved for Group One events, but he had just landed a major Derby trial by six-and-a-half lengths. John Gosden’s colt is now 6-1 second-favourite with most bookies to give Dettori a third Derby victory on his final start in the Epsom Classic.
It will not be difficult to pick a hole or two in Arrest’s form and chance if he goes to post on 3 June.
Indeed, Dettori did so, pointing out that the son of Frankel is a big, heavy type who might not enjoy fast ground at Epsom, and that the race “fell apart two out and I had to make my own way home”.
Arrest’s margin of victory may well have been exaggerated by rain-softened ground and it was not within hailing distance of the remarkable 22-length success that led to Savethelastdance being installed as favourite for the Oaks half an hour earlier.
But there are plenty of positives, including proven stamina for the 12-furlong trip at Epsom, confirmation that Arrest has strengthened impressively over the winter and the near-certainty he will improve for what was the fourth race of his career.
“I spoke to John and the Juddmonte team [which owns Arrest],” Dettori said, “and he’s not a horse you would want to put on firm ground at Epsom. But last year was a soft ground Derby, so you don’t know.
“He’s got a million alternatives, but I have to be a bit suspicious as he’s so big. He might find it a bit of a challenge, but who knows what the weather is going to be like? The pluses are he’s a stronger horse who stays really well, this is a good trial and he doesn’t lack pace, so he ticks a lot of the boxes.
“For my last ride at Chester to win is great and at least I can dream a little bit of a Derby ride.”
There are several more Derby and Oaks trials to come over the next 10 days and Arrest is still behind Auguste Rodin, the beaten favourite in the 2,000 Guineas last Saturday, in most bookies’ Epsom lists.
Savethelastdance, though, is 13-8 clear favourite for the Oaks after pulling further clear all the way down the straight in the Cheshire Oaks and it will take an exceptional performance to dislodge Aidan O’Brien’s filly before the Classic on 2 June.
“You can only be impressed by what she’s done there,” Ryan Moore, the winner’s jockey, said. “They kind of all gave up with half a mile to go and she was just getting going, but she gave me a very good feel. She’s probably given me as good a feel in this race as the ones I’ve ridden [in the same race before]”
Alder can stake Derby claim on Roodee
Donnacha O’Brien’s record on the Roodee is quite a contrast to that of his father, Aidan, as his only runner at Chester to date finished unplaced at the May meeting two years ago while O’Brien Sr has a 43% strike rate at the track since 2018 and has won seven of the last 10 runnings of the Listed Dee Stakes.
The 24-year-old can put a minor dent in his father’s stats in this year’s renewal of the Dee on Thursday, however, when Alder (2.40), a son of the 2014 Derby winner, Australia, can stake his own claim for a place in the Epsom Classic next month.
Alder progressed steadily in three starts as a juvenile and rounded off his campaign with a two-and-a-quarter length third behind Auguste Rodin – the current, somewhat uneasy market leader for the Derby – on Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.
He improved further when stepped up to 10 furlongs for the first time at Cork last month and should have more to come on Thursday. San Antonio, his father’s only runner, is impeccably bred – by Dubawi out of a Classic runner-up by Galileo – and the only other Derby entry in the field, but has several pounds to find on his three runs to date.
Chester 1.30 She did not show much on her return in a Listed event at Bath last month but Nymphadora’s close second at Royal Ascot last summer off a 1lb lower mark gives her a big chance here from a useful draw in stall three.
Southwell 1.50 The step up to seven furlongs should not be a major issue for Yorkshire as he needed every inch of six to win at Southwell last time and he starts out in handicaps on a workable mark.
Chester 2.05 Surely Not is more exposed than several of his rivals towards the top of the market but put up a career-best on his seasonal debut last month – his first start after being gelded – and should get the strong pace that suits his running style.
Chester 3.15 The lightly raced seven-year-old Hamish was beaten at odds-on on his final start last season – by Max Vega, who faces him again today – but conditions conspired against him there and he would not need to improve to repeat his cosy success in this race 12 months ago.
Chester 1.30 Nymphadora 2.05 Surely Not (nap) 2.40 Alder 3.15 Hamish 3.45 City Streak (nb) 4.20 Hackman 4.55 Double Oban
Huntingdon 1.40 Park Hill Dancer 2.15 I Hope Star 2.50 Somekindofstar 3.25 Kentford Mallard 4.00 Swapped 4.30 Dorado Dollar 5.05 Montecam
Southwell 1.50 Yorkshire 2.25 Dear Daphne 3.00 Cruise 3.35 Ginny Jo 4.10 Blazing Son 4.40 Na Scoitear 5.13 Grandfather Tom 5.43 Tio Mio
Thirsk 5.35 Oh So Charming 6.10 Jack Of Clubs 6.40 Leap Day 7.10 Turbulent Power 7.40 Indian Creak 8.10 Sparks Fly 8.45 Ey Up Its Jazz
Chelmsford 6.00 Hannah’s Return 6.30 Fiscal Policy 7.00 Sugar Hill 7.30 Monaadhil 8.00 Sir Raj 8.30 Jenson Benson 9.00 Egoiste
Chester 3.45 A wide-open handicap, but two non-runners on his inside give City Streak every chance from stall eight if he is anywhere near the form of his close second at Goodwood last August.
