3 minute read

Collaboration could have clinched his ticket to Royal Ascot when completing a hat-trick in the IG Handicap at Chester.

The Wolferton Handicap at next month's premier summer festival had been pencilled in as a possible target for the progressive four-year-old and he reinforced his claims by following up wins at Windsor and Epson with a fluent success on the Roodee.

David Probert had Andrew Balding's charge just off a decent pace set by Elkaayed and Master Of Finance before unleashing the 9-4 favourite with an undeniable run early in the straight.

Collaboration had too much speed for Tres Coronas as he galloped clear by two and a quarter lengths. Master Of Finance plugged on for third, a further one and three-quarter lengths away.

"He won well at Windsor, then he went on to win at Epsom on ground quicker than ideal. He's gone up 10lb and has come here and won on softer ground," said Balding's wife, Anna Lisa.

"Most horses have a preference and he prefers softer ground.

"I'm sure Andrew will have a plan and I think the Wolferton was discussed before this. Things might change now, but we'll see how he is."

Carry On Deryck (10-1) bounced back to form as he defied top weight in the Boodles Diamond Handicap.

Jamie Spencer brought the David Evans-trained three-year-old to challenge in the straight after being in a handy position behind the pace set by Geordie George and Pleiades.

Carry On Deryck quickly asserted and stuck to his task gamely to score by three-quarters of a length from the staying-on Billy Slater.

Evans reported the winner had been out of sorts until just recently.

"I didn't have him last year - he was with Sylvester Kirk. I've run him a couple of times but my horses weren't right," said the Abergavenny trainer.

"A couple of weeks ago he had stuff coming out of his eye and his nose. I thought he had sinus trouble. We got the vet in and he sorted him out. He can only improve from that."