“We might have to look at a conditions race over two miles,” Jarvis said, “and I would like to think he might have a tilt at the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.”In the race for Chester’s divas, the Cheshire Oaks, Wragg’s Hidden Hope was nothing like as well fancied. The 14-1 chance was ignored by punters and hardly extolled by her trainer, who had not bothered to put her in the real thing at Epsom next month.For much of the race it appeared that Darryll Holland and Clive Brittain’s Menhoubah, with her distinguishing cheekpieces, had stolen the Listed contest from the front, but then Ted Durcan got to work on his lavishly white-faced partner. Hidden Hope came under considerable pressure, yet not as much as the toiling fillies in her wake.”I was hoping she would get a place today because I knew she would stay and she did run well at Windsor last time,” Wragg said. “The Oaks entry time probably came a bit too soon for her and she will be aimed at the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot now.”.

He is a great horse for around here,” the jockey said.”Another horse came across me and I was nearly brought down. Mick Channon’s horse [Misternando] came round the outside and cut right across and tightened us all up He tucked in and brushed under my neck It could have been nasty. Yet on the land that was formerly used as a military ground, there is much to commend the tactic of keeping out of the battlefield that the Chester Cup can become in midfield. Robinson stayed out of that territory but still encountered turbulence just under four furlongs out.”It was always going to get a bit rough as everybody was jostling for position, but, luckily, I had the horse to get me through.

“Looking back, it was the trip to the vet after he ran that stinker at Kempton last year that has made the difference with the horse,” Jarvis said. “He finished tailed-off and went round shouting his head off He was just being horny. He has definitely run sweeter since he was gelded.”Anak Pekan ran in and collected the traditional stepping stone to this race, the Queen’s Prize at Kempton, by five lengths last month, and the authoritative manner and winning distance were to be replicated yesterday.Rahwaan was rushed into the lead by Paul Hanagan in what was to be a brief flourish. Jarvis has had the tight contours of Chester in mind since last November, but the four-year-old’s life-changing moment came earlier that season, after a dreadful effort over Easter. The partnership was ultimately to finish 17th and last.Anak Pekan was right in behind, in fact, probably too close behind for Philip Robinson’s comfort He was keen.

There was plenty of history in the winners’ enclosure too on the Roodeye yesterday and they must have been dancing in the pensioners’ club in Newmarket last night. The old city of Chester likes to lean on its racing heritage, on the days when the Romans used to charge round on their chariots for sport. It is dominated by Britons with Smith, Whitaker and Skelton in the top three places and five compatriots among the top 10.. Bondue denied the allegation.Six riders, including Gaumont, who was fired in February, and a physiotherapist have been placed under investigation in the affair..