Pekan defies odds to extend reign

Racing Chester Cup reportAnak Pekan joined a select group of horses to have won one of Britain's oldest and most celebrated races twice as he caused a 16 to 1 surprise in the Totesport Chester Cup yesterday.

The Michael Jarvis-trained gelding is one of nine horses to have twice taken the contest, first run in its present form in 1824, but one of only five to have won it in successive years.

The majority of racehorse trainers traditionally prefer, when put on the spot, to take a pessimistic view of the chances of their charges before big races like this.

But it was genuine surprise on the face of Jarvis as Philip Robinson returned into the winner's enclosure aboard the five-year-old, who had to defy a hefty hike in the weights having won with embarrassing ease 12 months ago.

Aware of the possible perils that might come from being trapped wide, Robinson had the winner smartly away from his outside draw to try to take up a rails position and he settled in nicely behind early leader Romany Prince.

As the pace stepped up three furlongs out, Dr Sharp swept through to get his head in front while Swift Sailor was poised to challenge on the inside.

The latter went on turning for home but Anak Pekan followed in his slipstream and he pulled out more to get the better of things and land a famous victory.

He sprinted away to beat Swift Sailor by a length, with Contact Dancer staying on for third a further length and a quarter away, and the well-backed Larkwing giving each-way backers some cheer as he finished fourth.

The Chester Cup is never the same without at least one hard-luck story and Coconut Beach, Aidan O'Brien's first runner on the Roodee and the well-backed 7 to 2 favourite, was among the worst sufferers in some scrimmaging three furlongs out and ran on well in the circumstances to take fifth.

The winner crossed the runner-up in the final strides, causing Kevin Darley to snatch up momentarily, and the stewards called an inquiry to take a closer look at the incident. But, not surprisingly, it was only a matter of minutes before the placings were confirmed.

Robinson said: "He had the pace to get up there and get a lovely position.

They didn't go quite as quick this year and it helped with the weight that they went that pace for him. He was able to conserve his energy.

"Even though he's a staying horse, he's got bags of speed and that helps in a race like this," added Robinson. "He had 18lb more to carry than last year - it was a very good performance."

Future plans for the winner are uncertain, but the John Smith's Northumberland Plate, in which he finished third last year, could be next on the agenda.

Given that he appears very much to be a spring horse then it would not be unreasonable to imagine that an unprecedented Cup hat-trick bid could be on the cards, a feat for which Cashmans offer him at 8 to 1.