Orchestra obliges for Ballydoyle at Chester

Orchestra followed in the hoofprints of subsequent Epsom hero Ruler Of The World by winning the MBNA Chester Vase.

The Galileo colt did not bowl over the Roodee masses in quite the same manner as his six-length-winning stablemate did 12 months ago, but Ryan Moore’s post-race appraisal could be revealing.

Moore seldom allows hyperbole to mask realism, but the jockey was clearly most taken with Orchestra, who was halved by some bookmakers to about the 20 to 1 mark for the Derby.

The Ballydoyle inmate appeared set to easily claim the Group Three over an extended mile-and-a-half as he breezed into the lead two furlongs out once a perfect gap appeared on the rail.

But the 3-1 favourite suddenly found himself in a slightly compromising position as the John Gosden-trained Romsdal arrived late and fast under William Buick.

It took a photo-finish to separate the protagonists, with Orchestra taking top honours by a nose to give trainer Aidan O’Brien a fifth Chester Vase success in the last eight years

Scotland was third, another eight lengths in arrears.

Moore, who later rode two other winners on the card, said: “It was a perfect trip but I was on the best horse. I was trying to be nice to him. He’s a lovely horse. He travelled around beautifully. He’s a big, strong horse and it’s only his third ever run. The ground was probably a bit too loose for him. They think a bit of the second and third, so hopefully it will be [a strong race].”

Kevin Buckley, Coolmore's UK representative, feels there should be more to come from Orchestra: "Aidan probably left a little bit of work on him."