East India Dock flies home for Chester Cup honours

Harry Davies registered back-to-back victories in the Ladbrokes Chester Cup as East India Dock made a brilliant winning return to the Flat.

Successful aboard Hugo Palmer’s Zoffee 12 months ago, Davies is now forming a blossoming relationship with Newmarket handler James Owen and delivered the Triumph Hurdle third to perfection in the prestigious £170,000 handicap.

It was Ryan Moore who set the fractions aboard Joseph O’Brien’s Leinster and when the leading jockey allowed his mount to stride on passing the five-furlong marker on the second circuit, the four-year-old appeared full of running.

The field swarmed rounding the home turn with George Scott’s progressive Caballo De Mar laying down a stern challenge and hitting the front a furlong out, but East India Dock was staying on with every stride as the 9-4 favourite turned Cheltenham Festival disappointment into Roodee delight.

Owen’s charge returned a length verdict over Caballo De Mar, with defending champion and Davies’ old favourite Zoffee an honourable third, and the winning trainer was delighted to see a plan come together for his owners.

He said: “He travelled lovely and hit his flat spot like he usually does but he stayed on well.

“Tim and Mr (Bill) Gredley had this plan and it’s great that we have pulled it off. There are some big pots on the Flat and he’s a lovely dual-purpose horse now.

“To win the Chester Cup is fantastic, we’ve hit the crossbar a few times coming here, but it’s nice to have a winner here and we’ve won the big one.”

Davies told Sky Sports Racing: “I’m very lucky to get the rides in this race I have and every time I have ridden in it I don’t think I’ve had a bad ride.

“He got a good draw which always helps round here and he jumped good, I was able to hold my pitch and then he was gutsy. He stays well and had the perfect profile coming into the race.

“He loved that dead ground and while everything else was sort of half struggling, he just cruised on through – what a tough horse and I’m delighted for connections.

“He’s a strong traveller and when horses have run over hurdles they learn how to relax better and in a race like this where you have to really rev them to hold their pitch, if they can then relax and drop the bridle there is nothing better.

“James has been very supportive of me and the Gredley Family have also been happy for me to ride their horses and I was delighted when I got the ride on this fella.”