Speaking of cheese: Zoffee Owen overjoyed after landmark Chester Cup win | Sports

timeThe trophy, and the 30 pounds of Cheshire cheese that came with it, was handed to Zoffee’s owner Alan Peterson after the Chester Cup match on Friday, but it goes to show how much this unique competition means to the local area Michael Owen, the landlord of the Manor Stables where Zoffe trains with Hugo Palmer, is celebrating as if he had just scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final. “It was almost a lifelong dream of mine to win that game,” Irving said. “I said to the owner before the race: ‘I know this is your horse, but on the property they are all mine,’ and that’s how I felt.”

In many ways, victory at a ground built from scratch by one of Chester’s most famous sons was the ideal result in a competition marking the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Chester Cup.

Zoffee was rejected in his last step 12 months ago but this time he is 3lb lighter and is enjoying his Chester riding exercise with 18-year-old Harry Davies and has been riding ever since. As part of Palmer’s surgery, “he had to stand on a barrel to secure the thumbtacks to his pony,” the trainer said.

Davis left stall one quickly and held ground on the rails through Roodee’s two tracks before asking Zoffe to accelerate past the leading Aztec Empire in the final furlong.

“We all love this horse,” Palmer said. “He may not be the highest rated horse in the yard, but he has the cutest expression on his face and he loves his job.

“Harry and I have been a big part of each other’s lives for a long time. His mum Angie was my assistant and she was with me for 12 years and Harry was only 18. [Palmer’s old yard in] Newmarket.

“It’s a massive, historic race and it’s the 200th anniversary. There aren’t too many hurdles that have that kind of prestige, other than Royal Ascot, so it means a lot to the local area and it was a huge success two years ago. We finished third and we finished second last year, so we’re getting closer.

“We said last year we were going to come back and win this year and Harry rode his first stakes winner for us last year and he’s won this race for us now and with a bit of luck he might ride His first team title tomorrow for our Linfield [on Stenton Glider]”.

The Huxley Stakes is one of the latest additions to the May Festival but it is the only Group Two major race here and on Friday Sir Michael Stott’s Passenger showed off the turning steps of Group One to achieve Impressive winner Israel won on the home straight and could secure a place in next month’s Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Parsonson was sent off at 8-1 in last year’s Derby at Epsom, just six weeks after making a successful debut at the track in the Wood Ditton Stakes at Newmarket. Unlucky to finish third in York Dante.

He failed to break into Group One company, but Parsonson could hardly have made a more promising start to his four-year campaign, for a manager who has few, if any, peers in the late stages ——Mature horse.

Parsonson’s career has many similarities to that of his father Ulysses, who also stormed the 2016 Derby at odds of 8-1, Later he became a double champion of Group 1 at the Eclipse Championship and the International Championship.

He broke the record with Friday’s success and although he was initially offered odds of 14-1 after crossing the line in the Prince of Wales Stakes, this was quickly slashed to a more realistic 11-2.

Victoria Cup is strong

Saturday’s Victoria Cup is the first major event of the year at Ascot’s drag strip, with a typically strong update including a number of contenders who already have solid track form.

The group includes course and distance winner Pearle D’Or, who is vying for favor with Mostabshir, who won last year’s Group One St James’s Sixth out of nine starts in the St James’s Palace Stakes, albeit on a round course.

However, there are several competitors making similar cases at better prices, including Golden Street (2.40) The highest price on the early list was 18-1. Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding, who finished third out of 15 runners in last summer’s Jersey Stakes, will be given the strong pace he loves to chase, while Georgia Dobie Dobie’s 3-pound weight is also a bonus.

Ascot 1.30.An increase to 12 furlongs is likely to improve further area After two convincing 10 wins.

Linfield 1.50.Roger Varianzen Emerick He put in a strong performance to win the first race of the 2023 season and his lightly raced five-year-old is still running well.

Ascot 2.05. virgin mary When she was promoted to the public company for her seasonal debut, she performed as well as expected and had plenty of room for improvement, making only her sixth start.

Linfield 2.25. All but one player who competed in the Oaks Trials are still competing in the Classic, including the player currently ranked No. 2 on the pre-tournament roster, Danielle. John Gosden’s mare was a winner by 12 lengths at Wetherby in April and should have a place in the Epsom race.

Linfield 3.00. Environmentally friendly He was priced in double figures at the Derby Trials but looked certain to race when he finished fourth at Newmarket in April and his juvenile form looked promising when he finished third in the Autumn Championship. It’s very stable.

Haydock 3.15. Cheltenham Festival winner Lark In The Mornin has set the bar high but faster ground speed makes this a different test, Afadil, Freddie Gingell, who finished fourth in the Scottish Champion Hurdle last time out, is 3lb lighter and will be a tough opponent.

Linfield 3.35. notes Having performed well in several Group One games last season, assuming she’s forthright enough to do her justice here, she’ll be hard to beat.