Chester May Festival: A slice of heaven for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Brown McMonagle crowned King of the Chester Cup | Racing news

Joseph O’Brien’s growing CV now includes a Ladbrokes Chester Cup while A Piece Of Heaven made the stall one count at Rudy.

A classic winner as both jockey and trainer, as well as notable victories over hurdles, the Owning Hill handler sent three to Chester for their feature hurdle of the week.

His stablemate Galileo Dame would finish well in fourth but the 7-1 chance A Piece of Heaven was always in the box seat in the hands of Irish champion jockey Dylan Brown McMonagle, who had to wait for the third runner to run out of petrol in the front race before making his mark.

Kevin Philippe de Foy’s Maxi King also finished strongly in second place under Toby Moore, but could not take the half-length advantage A Piece of Heaven had with him to the winning post.

McMonagle said: “I’m very happy, it was a good race and I was always in control of the race it was just a matter of gathering him and getting the leader.

“He’s a solid horse and he was trained for today so we’re delighted.

“He’s made a big stride and they’ve had a good run which has always been fitting and will bring out his stamina. Many thanks to Joseph and the home team, it’s a great result.

“I’ve always been inclined to ride this boy as he’s improving and is always going to improve step by step on the trip, it’s good to see him back to his best.

“He had a few minor accidents after Ascot which meant we didn’t see his best last year but Joseph has done an incredible job getting him back into it. Hopefully he can have a nice campaign now.”

Lambourn approaches Huxley’s hard-fought success

Ryan Moore was at his best as dual Derby hero Lambourn dug deep to hold off Bay City Roller in an intriguing Deepbridge Huxley Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old won the Chester Vase at the meeting 12 months ago before scooping Classic honors at both Epsom and the Curragh and was sent off 6-4 favorite to return to the Ruddy.

Playing the chickpeas for the first time, George Scott’s Group One-winning Bay City Roller was quickly in the hands of Oisin Murphy in the straight to his rider, the Australian boy, with the pair remaining in that order throughout an intriguing Group Two event.

It was the Bay City rollers who looked full of run as they drew in style with Lambourn into the home straight, but the Ballydoyle raiders refused to lie down and responded with a brace from Moore to seal the win.

Lambourn’s win gave Coolmore number one with a record-extending ninth win at Huxley, while the winner was 10-1 from 14 seconds for the Coronation Cup, another of his finest hours, back on the scene at Epsom.

“Obviously he won the Vase here last year and went on to do the Derby double and then he was trained for the St Leger but he didn’t get the trip,” Moore said.

“It was good to get him back here and even though he was a bit rusty he kept finding and I was always in control.

“Hopefully he can go on and have a really good season. Epsom (Coronation Cup) looks like the obvious next step.”

Ascot may be bound to react after Smart Chester strikes

Realize the Royal Ascot dream for the Highclere Thoroughbred team with easy winners of the CAA Stellar Great Cheshire Handicap at Chester.

Winner of two of his previous nine starts, the feeling was the Andrew Balding-trained four-year-old had yet to live up to home expectations.

The heavily backed 10-11 favorite made great use of two stalls for Oisin Murphy and never saw another rival, coming home nearly five lengths clear of Whip Cracker.

Murphy made it a double in the first two races when he partnered Balding’s Gallian in the Boodle’s Darley EBF maiden over a mile and a half.

Fourth on his debut at Newcastle recently, he still looked very green throughout but Murphy put him into contention before taking Joulani down the straight.

The 9-4 second favorite won by two and a quarter lengths.