Corner takes Vase victory

Fight Your Corner bounced back from a poor reappearance effort to give Mark Johnston his second Vodafone Derby trial victory in 10 days at Chester today.

Fight Your Corner trailed in a well-beaten seventh when favourite for the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket last month.

But the colt, a three-time winner as a juvenile, left that effort well behind this time - even though nothing went to plan for jockey Kevin Darley in the Group Three mile-and-a-half event.

His mount could not go the initial pace so plans to makes the running had to be scrapped, and the three-year-old also found himself boxed in on the rail in the early stages.

But once switched to the outside he quickened smartly to sit on the heels of front-running Sparkling Water turning for home and then showed a fine burst of speed to lead in the straight for a two-and-a-half-length win.

'Regrettably he is not in the Derby but if you put all your 15,500-guinea yearlings in you will nearly be paying for the race,' Johnston said afterwards.

'It is a ridiculous entry system and something will have to be done about it or Classic trials will be a waste of time. This is the second Derby trial we have won with a horse who is not entered.'

There were more positive Epsom Classic clues as Fragrant View made all in the 10 1/2-furlong Bryant Homes Maiden Stakes.

Her three-and-a-half-length triumph under Richard Hughes paid a big complement to her recent Newbury conqueror Islington, and the pair are now 12-1 and 6-1 favourite respectively in William Hill`s betting on the Vodafone Oaks.

'I think she will get a mile and a half and the Oaks is a possibility,' said trainer Barry Hills, who does not fear a rematch with the Newbury winner.

'We have always thought a lot of her. There was a moderate pace at Newbury and Islington got first run on her.'

Vodafone Oaks:

William Hill: 11-2 Islington, 6-1 Alasha, 7-1 Kazzia, Quarter Moon, 10-1 Esloob, Snowfire, 11-1 Java, 12-1 Fragrant View.