Ruler Of The World now on Epsom trail

Aidan O’Brien sends out his fourth Chester Vase winner in the last seven years

Aidan O’Brien sent out his fourth MBNA Chester Vase winner in the last seven years with Ruler Of The World, a colt who fits the theme of his previous visitors.

The 10 to 11 favourite, a chestnut Galileo half-brother to Duke Of Marmalade, took a little while to be wound up by Ryan Moore but stretched six lengths clear of his rivals in the home straight and sent bookmakers’ Investec Derby betting into some confusion.

Of the previous winners, Soldier Of Fortune won an Irish Derby and Treasure Beach was beaten just a head by Pour Moi at Epsom, Coolmore and Ballydoyle’s primary candidate tends to emerge from one of the other trials.

Ruler Of The World’s Classic odds range from 14 to 1 (Ladbrokes) to just 6s with Paddy Power.

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Moore said: “He has a good pedigree and should have no problems staying (the Derby distance), but that’s not to say the favourite (Dawn Approach) won’t do either.

“Once I grabbed hold of him he lengthened really well. Going round here will have done him good.”

Speaking on behalf of the owners was Derrick Smith's son, Paul, who said: "Aidan thinks quite a lot of him, he's been working well at home and we're really delighted with that.

'Bit babyish'
"We thought he might be a little bit green and a little bit babyish. I think with the tight, turning track and the crowd, it was a good choice (of race) and it paid dividends."

A great week for Tom Dascombe’s Cheshire stable, owned by Michael Owen, continued when 13 to 8 favourite Fine ’n Dandy turned the Liverpool One EBF Maiden into a rout. It was the second winner as a part-owner for Stoke City footballer Charlie Adam, who said: “It’s my first time at Chester and that was really nice.”

Dascombe will aim the juvenile for Sandown’s National Stakes.

Kieren Fallon claimed one of the meeting’s features for the second day in a row when Danadana recovered from a seemingly hopeless position in the Stella Artois Huxley Stakes.

The six-time champion jockey has been finding himself in demand again at the age of 48 and has always ridden the Roodee well, demonstrated by the way he forged Banoffee up the inside rail in Tuesday’s Cheshire Oaks.

Luca Cumani’s 100 to 30 favourite became detached at the back of the field, before Fallon started to get some response and moved back into contention. Pulled wide with a furlong remaining, he charged past the leader Highland Knight and eventually passed the post a comfortable three-quarters of a length in front.