Duke Of Westminster Supporting The Chester Cup
Heritage Handicap 15:40
£170,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 2f 140y, Class 2   
Friday 12th May 2023

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1 Zoffee 9/1
2 Emiyn 28/1
3 Zanndabad 11/1
4 Aztec Empire 4/1F
16 ran NR: The Shunter Distances: ¾l, nk, 1l
Time: 3m 59.16s (fast by 4.34s)

Hugo Palmer’s Zoffee improved upon last year’s performance to secure victory in the 200th edition of the historic race.

Drawn from stall one, the 9-1 winner—narrowly beaten by a neck twelve months ago—positioned itself perfectly along the rail. Former apprentice jockey Harry Davies executed a well-timed challenge.

Throughout much of the race, the Andrew Balding-trained pair of Aztec Empire and Grand Providence dictated the pace. Oisin Murphy attempted to steal the lead aboard Aztec Empire with just two furlongs remaining. However, Davies guided Zoffee around Emiyn, accelerating impressively in the final furlong.

This triumph marked a significant achievement for Palmer, who recently relocated from Newmarket to take charge at Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables in Cheshire. Emiyn, despite a challenging start, delivered an outstanding performance to finish second, narrowly beaten by three-quarters of a length. Zanndabad secured third place, while Aztec Empire settled for fourth.

After consecutive third and second-place finishes in previous editions of this prestigious event, Palmer expressed his delight at finally clinching the coveted title.

Trainers Quotes

He said: “It’s the big race in this part of the world and very exciting. We were second last year and third with Rajinsky the year before so we’ve gone three, two, one in our three years up here.

“He’s given him a wonderful ride. I’ve known Harry a very long time and his mother Angie is my assistant. He’s been with me since he was seven so to win this big race for us is fantastic.

“We kept racing ponies for him when we were in Newmarket and he had to stand on a bucket to tack his horses up. He’s been riding out for us for a very long time, he’s a talented young man and he’s going places.

“I’m just delighted and so pleased the Petersons sent him back after the hurdling didn’t go well. I’m grateful to Olly Murphy and his team, they’ve done all the work over the winter and we’ve only had him back a couple of months.

“We all love this horse and he might not be the highest rated horse in the yard, but he’s just the loveliest face, he loves his job and we just love him.

“It’s been a tough week, character building!”

Owen said: “It is pretty much a lifelong dream to win that race and he came second last year.

“I said earlier in the week I think we’d win the big one. He always looks the part and he’s a lovely, lovely horse.

“I’m so pleased for the owners and I said to them before the race, ‘I know he’s your horse, but they are all my horses at Manor House’, that is how it feels. Alan (Peterson) has been a great supporter and this horse has always been a yard favourite – he’s just the nicest person in the world.

“He was second last year and now he’s gone and done it.”

Davies said he was confident in the chance of his mount, as he celebrated a welcome big-race winner.

“He’s a really good horse on the Flat and he was 3lb lower than last year which I thought was absolute theft. It’s just great to win this race for the Palmer team and this is the race they come to Chester every year wanting to win,” he told Sky Sports Racing. 

“Hugo is a massive supporter of mine and it’s just great to keep everyone happy. 

“It’s hard when you lose your claim, but I’ve been very lucky to keep people who have supported me along the way. I probably have quite a small team and wouldn’t have the most outside rides, but the trainers I do ride for stick by me and I’m really grateful for that.”

He added: “Everyone has come down, they are all local, they all live in Cheshire and it’s the one meeting of the year they all go to. A few of them go to Royal Ascot, but this is definitely the big week of the year for them and for them to see me ride a winner as well, there will probably be a few pictures from today.”

Boylesports

Chester Cup Heritage Handicap
£170,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 2f 140y, Class 2
16 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)    Zoffee 8 8-7 Hugo Palmer Harry Davies 9/1
2 (7) ¾ Emiyn 7 8-9 Declan Carroll Zak Wheatley 28/1
3 (10) nk Zanndabad 5 8-9 A J Martin Richard Kingscote 11/1
4 (4) 1 Aztec Empire 5 8-9 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 4/1F
5 (12) nk Grand Providence 4 8-6 Andrew Balding Hayley Turner 15/2
6 (6) nse Aqwaam 6 8-7 Ian Williams Franny Norton 11/1
7 (15) 1¼ Falcon Eight 9 9-12 D K Weld Oisin Orr 22/1
8 (3) ½ Forza Orta 6 8-6 Kevin Ryan Rowan Scott 9/1
9 (14) 1½ The Grand Visir 10 8-6 Ian Williams Joe Fanning 33/1
10 (8) 1¼ Too Friendly 6 8-6 James Owen Silvestre De Sousa 9/2
11 (16) 2 Duke Of Oxford 4 8-7 Michael Bell David Egan 12/1
12 (11) ½ Zealandia 7 8-9 Ian Williams Jim Crowley 28/1
13 (17) 1¼ Spirit Mixer 6 8-11 Andrew Balding Callum Hutchinson 33/1
14 (5) 4 Solent Gateway 6 8-9 Hugo Palmer Saffie Osborne 20/1
15 (2) 3¼ Magellan Strait 5 9-4 Joseph O'Brien William Buick 9/1
16 (9) 5½ Citizen General 5 8-12 Ed Dunlop Clifford Lee 40/1
NR 3 (13) The Shunter 11 9-3 Emmet Mullins NON RUNNER

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