Mamlook swoops for glory on the Roodee
Jockey Richard Hughes had recommended the race to trainer David Pipe after the pair finished strongly for second in the Cesarewitch last year.
And his placing proved spot on as Mamlook broke well from stall five and picked off top weight Tastahil in the dying strides to be award the marathon contest by a head.
Halla San finished third for the second successive year and Irish raider Majestic Concorde completed the placings in fourth.
The 17 runners crawled for most of the two-mile-two-furlong trip and those who sat handy throughout dominated the finish.
Mamlook had plenty of form in the book which allowed him to start the 7-1 market leader, including his Cesarewitch placing and a close second in the 2008 Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting.
Winning owner Peter Deal, who is best known for his association with 1997 Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand, said: “That was fantastic and full marks to Hughsie as it was his idea to run.
“He was so handy all of the way through and learned about him in the Cesarewitch. He wasn’t a close second there but he was a worthy second.
“He’s run in high-class hurdle races and this is a dream, it really is.
“I was born in Cheshire so this is my local track and this is right up there with any other win I have had as an owner.”
Hughes said: “It was lucky I went to Aintree as I bumped into David and told him to make sure he put this horse in the Chester Cup!
“I’ve been watching him running over jumps and I’ve kept tipping him to everyone, but the ground kept going too soft for him and he’s a right horse on his day.”
John Gosden meanwhile ensured domestic harmony as he sent out Gertrude Bell, who is owned by his wife Rachel Hood, to lay down an Epsom marker in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks.
Light Shift progressed from victory on the Roodee three years ago to land the Investec Oaks and Gertrude Bell received quotes ranging from 16-1 to 20s for the fillies’ Classic after scoring under William Buick.
The home-bred filly appreciated a step up in distance when scoring at Newbury last month and relished the near mile-and-a-half trip by knuckling down to peg back front-runner Acquainted for a three-quarter-length success.
Hood said: “The trainer has made his wife very proud. She has a lovely attitude and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
“Gertrude Bell was the most amazing woman last century and I hope she can emulate her.”
Gosden added: “If you win a Chester trial, then you have got to go to Epsom.
“There was no pace but she has done it well, handled the track and is a nice, progressive filly.”
