3 minute read
Ile de Re (10-1) denied his stablemate Overturn back-to-back victories as trainer Donald McCain claimed a one-two in the StanJames.com Chester Cup.
Having his first race since leaving the Ian Williams yard, Ile de Re picked up the game front-running Overturn a furlong out to land the spoils.
Eddie Ahern had the field strung out like washing as Overturn (7-1) made a brave attempt to win again, but he could not quite give 13lb to Ile de Re. The winner made relentless progress on the final circuit for Jim Crowley and ultimately scored in good style by a length and three-quarters.
Gulf Of Naples (11-2 co-favourite) was five lengths away in third with Eternal Heart (14-1) a long way back in fourth. Both were trained by Mark Johnston.
The stalls were not used for this race due to the soft conditions.
Crowley said: "He was being a bit fractious at the start but I managed to get a good position after a furlong and we got a good trip all the way round. He travelled nicely and he was loving the ground so I was pretty confident and I knew he'd keep going."
McCain said: "Ian Williams deserves a lot of the credit as he did a lot of the work and we've only had him a few weeks. It was a brave run from the old horse as well. I don't quite know how to feel as he's beaten everything bar the other one. I thought he'd win two furlongs out but the weight on that ground has taken its toll.
"We all have a huge affection for him in the yard because he's so tough. Overturn is in the Ascot Gold Cup as well as the Queen Alexandra and that race would suit him. I shall speak to Tim (Leslie, owner) but I expect he'll end up running in one of those races at Ascot.
"We'd thought of the Northumberland Plate for Ile De Re but if he doesn't win another race for us, it doesn't matter. Flat racing is not the be-all-and-end-all for us but we are lucky to have some smashing horses that can do a job for us."
Johnston was delighted with Gulf Of Naples' effort but felt the flag start had scuppered the chance of Eternal Heart, saying: "Gulf of Naples did start the widest of the field and presumably he's used quite a lot of horse to get as close as he did early. It was a smashing run. If Eternal Heart had got a good position he would have finished a lot closer."