Ladbrokes Chester Cup
 AutoUpdating 150x150 Gif
Heritage Handicap 15:05
£170,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 2f 140y, Class 2   
Friday 9th May 2025

SureWIn

1 East India Dock 9/4F
2 Caballo De Mar 11/2
3 Zoffee 14/1
4 Leinster 100/30
15 ran NR: Chemistry, Liam Swagger
Distances: 1l, 1¾l, ¾l Time: 4m 5.76s (slow by 5.76s)

Twelve months on from guiding Zoffee to victory, Harry Davies once again showcased his growing maturity in the saddle with a perfectly timed ride aboard East India Dock, as the pair landed the historic race in style.

Now forming a quietly productive partnership with Newmarket trainer James Owen, Davies delivered the Triumph Hurdle third with trademark coolness in this £170,000 feature – a staying test that often rewards rhythm, positioning, and patience in equal measure.

Ryan Moore, aboard Leinster for Joseph O’Brien, controlled the early tempo and looked to have judged it well when pushing on past the five-furlong pole on the second circuit, his mount travelling notably strongly. But the complexion of the race changed rapidly swinging for home, with the field compressing and challengers queuing up.

Among them, Caballo De Mar threw down a sustained effort under Danny Tudhope, striking the front a furlong out. Yet the eye was always drawn to East India Dock, who, having briefly hit his customary flat spot, found his rhythm again in the closing strides. Staying on powerfully, the 9-4 favourite asserted late to score by a length, confirming his credentials as a serious dual-purpose performer.

A gallant Zoffee boxed on for third — a fitting subplot to the main act — but all honours belonged to Owen’s charge, whose campaign was expertly orchestrated by connections.

“He travelled great, did his usual thing where he just takes a bit of winding up, but when he hits top gear, he really gallops,” Owen said. “Tim and Mr Gredley had this in mind and to pull it off is very satisfying. We’ve had a few near misses here, so to win the Chester Cup — the big one — is special.”

Davies, who is swiftly becoming a go-to man in these staying handicaps, was quick to praise the team effort:

“He got a lovely draw and jumped into the race really well. He’s just so honest — he travels, he stays, and he absolutely loved that slightly dead ground. While others were paddling, he was powering on. A real tough horse.”

He added:

“He’s learned to relax from hurdling and that’s such an asset round here, where you need to keep your position but also switch off when the time’s right. James and the Gredley family have shown great faith in me — I’m very grateful.”

With stamina, class, and a touch of grit, East India Dock converted Cheltenham frustration into Roodee redemption — and in doing so, gave Davies a second Chester Cup that suggests this is only the beginning of a golden association.

Boylesports

Chester Cup Heritage Handicap
£170,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 2f 140y, Class 2
15 ran
Going: Good

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (6)    East India Dock 4 8-8 James Owen Harry Davies 9/4F
2 (8) 1 Caballo De Mar 4 8-7 3ex George Scott Callum Shepherd 11/2
3 (4) 1¾ Zoffee 9 8-11 Hugo Palmer Joe Leavy 14/1
4 (5) ¾ Leinster 4 8-10 Joseph O'Brien Ryan Moore 100/30
5 (10) 1¼ Who's Glen 4 8-12 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 9/1
6 (2) hd Emiyn 8 8-10 Declan Carroll Zak Wheatley 20/1
7 (13) 3 Spirit Mixer 7 8-10 Andrew Balding Rob Hornby 28/1
8 (9) hd Bashful Boy 9 8-2 David Pipe Aiden Brookes 80/1
9 (1) 1¼ Morning Air 4 8-3 Venetia Williams Joe Fanning 66/1
10 (7) shd Divine Comedy 7 9-7 Harry Eustace Kaiya Fraser 14/1
11 (3) 2 Hot Fuss 4 8-12 Tom Dascombe Pierre-Louis Jamin 8/1
12 (11) 2¼ Vaguely Royal 5 8-10 Anthony Charlton Connor Beasley 125/1
13 (14) 9½ Duke Of Oxford 5 9-2 Michael Bell Tom Marquand 40/1
14 (16) 2 Charging Thunder 7 8-12 James Owen David Probert 33/1
15 (15) 41 Dawn Rising 8 9-9 Joseph O'Brien Ray Dawson 18/1
NR 17 (17) Liam Swagger 4 8-2 James Owen NON RUNNER
NR 1 (12) Chemistry 4 9-10 Ivan Furtado NON RUNNER

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