Lambourn hustles to hard-fought Huxley success

Ryan Moore was at his very best as dual Derby hero Lambourn dug deep to hold off Bay City Roller in a fascinating Deepbridge Huxley Stakes at Chester.

Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old won the Chester Vase at this meeting 12 months ago before going on to scoop Classic honours at both Epsom and the Curragh and was sent off 6-4 favourite for his return to the Roodee.

Sporting first time cheekpieces, the son of Australia was bustled straight to the front by his rider as George Scott’s Group One-winning Bay City Roller was quickly on his heels in the hands of Oisin Murphy, with the duo remaining in that order throughout an intriguing Group Two event.

It was Bay City Roller who looked full of running having stylishly drawn alongside Lambourn entering the home straight, but the Ballydoyle raider refused to lie down and responded to every urging from Moore to seal a neck success.

Lambourn’s victory provided the Coolmore number one with a record-extending ninth win in the Huxley, while the winner was made 10-1 from 14s for the Coronation Cup, back at the scene of another of his finest hours, Epsom.

“Obviously he won the Vase here last year and went on to do the Derby double and then he was trained for the St Leger but he didn’t get the trip,” said Moore.

“It was nice to bring him back here and even though he was a little bit rusty he kept on finding and I was always in control.

“Hopefully he can go on and have a really good season. Epsom (Coronation Cup) would look the obvious next step.”

Coolmore representative Kevin Buckley said: “It’s nice to bring him back here. He didn’t make it easy for Ryan at different stages and hit hit the rail going round the bend but Ryan always knew he had all bases covered.

“He said he was confident he was going to win. Obviously it was a drop in trip for him but just for the crowd and the atmosphere it was great to see a dual Derby winner here.

“Obviously he’ll be stepped up in trip next time when he’d likely to be targeting the Coronation Cup I would imagine, that would be the natural next step.”

It has been another brilliant week for O’Brien, winning both Derby trials, the Cheshire Oaks and the Ormonde Stakes, but Lambourn’s win means for the first time they have won all five Pattern races over the three days.

Buckley said: “It’s great that we’ve won all five. We have had five winners over three days before but that included the Chester Cup, this is the first time we’ve won all five Pattern races. That’s the full complement which is quite special.”