Ranger wins Vase but only just US Army Ranger won the MBNA Chester Vase for Aidan O'Brien but was nearly caught by stablemate Port Douglas (no action taken after a running and riding inquiry). Favourite for the Investec Derby with some bookmakers before the race, whether he advertised his Classic credentials is up for debate. Port Douglas attempted to make all under Seamie Heffernan and when US Army Ranger and Ryan Moore swept past the race looked over, but the former rallied to be beaten just a short head by the 4/11 favourite. Moore said: "He's still very babyish, he travelled really nicely and I just wanted to teach him. "When he got to the front he had a bit of a look, as the other horse came back he was just going to do enough. "He's a baby, it's only his second run and he made his debut five weeks ago - he'll learn plenty. "I was probably a bit too kind to him when he first went there and he's probably switched off on me. "He didn't know how to fight and he'll learn a lot from that. Aidan's other horse isn't a bad horse, he's a Group Two winner carrying a penalty - they are both decent horses." Port Douglas won the Beresford Stakes last season and was carrying a 4lb penalty so while that proved his class, it should also have made US Army Ranger's task a little easier. Having travelled like the best horse throughout, Moore took advantage of the cut-away rail to sneak up on the inside of Port Douglas and the race looked over, only for his stablemate to rally to great effect. O'Brien said: "It wasn't a strong pace early and we thought nothing would go on so Seamus would have to and his wasn't doing much in front. "He probably learned a lot there. In an ideal world he'd prefer an end-to-end gallop. "It's a race he'll probably come out of very well because they only raced hard for the second half of the race. "We're very happy with him. Port Douglas has won a Group Two, he's a good solid Group Two horse. "We've another 10 days to go through with all the Derby trials, that would be the standout trial for me. "We've some running at Lingfield and Leopardstown this weekend and then we'll have runners in the Dante."
