Ormonde Stakes Preview

William Haggas admits it is difficult to know what to expect when he saddles Harris Tweed against Aidan O'Brien's St Nicholas Abbey in Friday's Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes at Chester.

Since his win in the Racing Post Trophy, St Nicholas Abbey has only been seen twice since, when a beaten favourite in last year`s 2000 Guineas and even more disappointingly when only third in a Listed race on his return a month ago. By contrast, Harris Tweed enjoyed a great 2010, winning four times, including two Listed races at the end of the season.

"He did very well last year and he`s ready to go now," said Haggas.

"The ground won`t make any difference to him, he`s won on soft and good to firm so we`re not worried.

"St Nicholas Abbey is there but their career paths have gone in different directions over the last 18 months. We`ll see, I don`t know what to expect."

Michael Bell runs Allied Powers, who returned this season with a fourth place finish in the John Porter behind Indian Days.

"He`s in good form. We know he likes the track, the ground could be a little bit quick for him but he should run a very good race," said Bell.

"He does handle quicker ground these days but I`d love to see him in a mile-and-a-half race on soft ground but there just aren't any about at the moment. Hopefully we might get some rain soon.

"We`re heading to Chantilly after this for the race he won last year (Grand Prix de Chantilly)."

Moore Wins Vase

Treasure Beach continued the good run of form for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore by lifting the MBNA Chester Vase on the Roodee.

Following up the victories of Wonder Of Wonders in the Cheshire Oaks and Await The Dawn in the Huxley Stakes, the Galileo colt held off the late lunge of the favourite Nathaniel.

Sent off at 7-2, Treasure Beach looked to be struggling behind Sadler's Risk as the field turned into the short straight, with Nathaniel looking well beaten at that stage.

To his credit, the 6-4 favourite found plenty when in the clear, but Moore was in the perfect place to take advantage and struck by a head. Treasure Beach was last seen finishing 11 lengths behind Frankel in the Royal Lodge at Ascot.

Oh No Kauto!

Connections of Kauto Star will not be rushing into a decision on the great horse's future despite the 11-year-old being pulled up in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup.

Having run a terrific race when third at Cheltenham in his attempt to land a third Gold Cup, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was sent off the 10-11 favourite to end his season with victory.

But in a dramatic renewal, Ruby Walsh pulled Kauto Star up before four out as Oliver McKiernan's Follow The Plan (20-1) took full advantage of a last-fence fall by Roberto Goldback to come home clear of Vic Venturi and Rare Bob.


Nicholls said: "I said to (partner) Georgie (Browne) before the race that I didn't care where he finished as long as he came back safe and sound and after he'd jumped three or four it was obvious where he would finish. He was not firing today.

"I'd done things a bit differently with him this year and had him fine-tuned for Cheltenham and then might have been a bit easy with him before this. But I'm not going to make any rash decisions based on one run. You could have a six-year-old that runs badly at this time of year and then comes back.

"We were in unknown territory running him in May and he'll have a summer's grass now. It's hard to judge on one run, but if he came back in the autumn and ran once more like that then obviously we would retire him."

Walsh said: "Kauto never jumped better than he did today but he never travelled."

News On Wootton Bassett

Wootton Bassett thrilled connections in a piece of work on Tuesday and is on course to make his reappearance in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp on Sunday week.

The unbeaten colt was last seen winning the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day at the Paris venue in October. Trainer Richard Fahey had originally planned a tilt at the Newmarket Guineas, but that came too soon after a minor setback earlier in the spring.

He is now reported to be firing on all cylinders, and in-form Fahey said: "His work has been excellent and we're looking at going to France because there's a good chance of getting suitable ground."

Chester Vase Preview

Slumber bids to build on his win in Epsom's Investec Derby Trial when he lines up for the MBNA Chester Vase on the Roodee.

The Cacique colt, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, stepped up considerably on his sole start as a juvenile to take that conditions race in good style by three and a half lengths from Borug when starting 7-1 in a field of five.


He now moves into Group Three class, and his four rivals include the John Gosden-trained Nathaniel, who trotted up on his reappearance after playing second fiddle to two Abdullah horses - Frankel and Picture Editor - on his two starts last term.

"Slumber has done very well. We're very pleased with the way he's come out of the race and it looks like he's improved. It was always the decision to come to Chester after Epsom and we couldn't be more delighted with him," said trainer Barry Hills' son and assistant, Charlie.

Gosden said of Nathaniel: "He's in good form. Like a lot of horses in his family, he would prefer it if there was some rain, but I wanted to run him over this (mile-and-a-half) trip and there was only either this or Lingfield on Saturday to choose from."

Lily Does The Business

Lily's Angel had few problems maintaining her unbeaten record in the Manor House Stables Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes at Chester.

Richard Fahey's 7-4 favourite had already bagged events at Beverley and Newcastle and quickened a length and three-quarters clear of Marford Missile once Paul Hanagan had freed himself from a small pocket turning around the tight final bend.

"She's a very laid-back filly and I wasn't quite sure this would be her ideal track, but she did it so well. She won't get a penalty so I'd like to go for the Hilary Needler at Beverley now," said Fahey.

Fahey reported his recent Ascot winner Miss Work Of Art had beaten Lily's Angel in a gallop a few days earlier and added: "At the moment she (Miss Work Of Art) looks pretty special but hopefully they might both end up at Royal Ascot."

Overturn Turns Them Over!

Overturn put up a brilliant front-running display to land the totesport.com Chester Cup on the Roodee in spectacular style.

Bursting out of stall one on the rail under Eddie Ahern, the 11-2 shot dictated affairs and powered to victory to give local trainer Donald McCain an amazing double after winning the Grand National with Ballabriggs.

Ahern ensured no prisoners were taken as he asked Overturn for everything and he kept pulling out more to win by a length and three-quarters. Tastahil plugged away to hang on for second place, with Mystery Star two and a quarter lengths back in third and David Wachman's Mount Athos fourth.