Chester May Festival: A Piece Of Heaven lands famous Chester Cup triumph for Joseph O’Brien

Joseph O’Brien added another landmark victory to his glittering training career as A Piece Of Heaven stormed home to land the Chester Cup on the final day of the Chester May Festival.

Sent off at 7-1 and partnered by the returning Dylan Browne McMonagle, the eight-year-old produced a perfectly timed challenge after the home turn to overhaul long-time leader Duraji and secure a half-length success in the prestigious staying handicap.

The Richard Hughes-trained outsider had attempted to make all under Finley Marsh at odds of 50-1 and stayed on gamely for third, another half-length behind runner-up Maxi King. O’Brien also saddled Galileo Dame to finish fourth under Ryan Moore, with Team Player back in fifth.

The victory added yet another major prize to O’Brien’s remarkable CV. As a jockey, he won 10 Classics including the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby aboard Camelot and Australia for his father Aidan O’Brien. Since turning trainer, he has captured two Melbourne Cup titles with Rekindling and Twilight Payment, an Irish Derby with Latrobe and multiple victories at the Cheltenham Festival.

Lambourn battles to Huxley Stakes success

Earlier on the card, Lambourn showed all his trademark determination to fend off Bay City Roller in a gripping renewal of the Huxley Stakes.

Ridden aggressively from the front by Moore and sporting first-time cheekpieces, the dual Derby hero looked under pressure when Bay City Roller loomed alongside entering the straight under Oisín Murphy. However, Lambourn dug deep to repel the challenge and prevail by a neck in the Group Two contest.

The victory gave Aidan O’Brien a record-extending ninth success in the Huxley Stakes, while Lambourn was subsequently cut for the Coronation Cup back at Epsom.

Rosenpur makes all in sprint handicap

There was also a front-running masterclass from Rosenpur in the Tom Jones Live At Chester Racecourse Handicap.

The Jennie Candlish-trained five-year-old broke sharply from stall five under Darragh Keegan and was never headed, stretching clear to score by a length-and-a-quarter from The Good Biscuit. Well-backed favourite Jonny Concrete finished a neck further away in third.

Murphy and Balding combine for Chester double

Murphy and trainer Andrew Balding enjoyed a productive afternoon as Respond bolted up in the CAA Stellar Great Cheshire Handicap.

Strongly fancied at 10-11, Respond made excellent use of stall two and quickly settled into a dominant rhythm before powering almost five lengths clear of Whip Cracker. The performance sparked hopes of a tilt at Royal Ascot later this summer.

Murphy had earlier opened his account aboard Balding’s promising Galiyan in the Boodles Darley EBF Maiden. The inexperienced colt still showed signs of greenness but stayed on strongly to beat Joulany by two and a quarter lengths.