Ladbrokes Chester Cup |
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| Heritage Handicap Chester 15:05 £170,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 2f 140y, Class 2  |
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1 A Piece Of Heaven 7/1
2
Maxi King 25/1
3 Duraji 50/1
15 ran NR: Lips Freedom, Tashkhan
Distances: ½l, ½l, ½l Time: 4m 1.19s (slow by 1.19s)
🏆 A PIECE OF HEAVEN WINS THE LADBROKES CHESTER CUP 🏆
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 8, 2026
That was some finish!#ITVRacing | @JosephOBrien2 | @DylanBrowneMcM pic.twitter.com/uOCvHBIfre
Joseph O’Brien added this to his growing list of big-race successes as A Piece Of Heaven made the most of stall one to land the Roodee feature.
The Owning Hill trainer, already a Classic-winning jockey and trainer as well as a major force over jumps, sent three runners for Chester’s premier handicap, with A Piece Of Heaven proving best of them under Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Always travelling strongly from a perfect position near the pace, the 7-1 chance tracked long-time leader Duraji before asserting late on to beat Maxi King by half a length, with stablemate Galileo Dame staying on for fourth.
McMonagle said: “I’m very happy, it was a good run around and I was always in control of the race. It was just a matter of gathering him up and getting the leader.
“He’s a tough horse and he was trained for today so we’re delighted.
“He had a few little mishaps after Ascot which meant we didn’t see the best of him last year, but Joseph has done an unbelievable job to get him back to this. Hopefully he can have a nice campaign now.”
O’Brien later told the Press Association: “I’m delighted for Dylan and the horse and in particular the ownership group as they have been very patient with the horse over the last few seasons.
“He has been threatening to win a big race but hasn’t been the most straightforward to train and their patience with both me and the horse has been rewarded.
“That big race has looked to be coming and Dylan has given him a great ride. It was his first winner at Chester as well.”
Looking ahead, Royal Ascot could be next before a possible tilt at the Cesarewitch later in the season.
Assistant trainer Mick Halford added: “Once I saw how the race was panning out I was confident he was our best chance because he had the best position.
“The draw is so important round here. He was in the box seat and with the cutaway in the straight he was always going to get through.
“Ascot will be high up on the agenda now but he’ll have lots of options.”
Chester Cup Heritage Handicap
£170,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 2f 140y, Class 2
15 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
