Eddery gives Fantasy a dream ride

Traffic problems stopped Pat Eddery getting to the course in time for the first race but the veteran jockey had no trouble getting a clear passage on rejuvenated Fantasy Hill who cruised home in the Tote Chester Cup today.

His mount had been out of luck round the tight turns in the £100,000 (€161,000) handicap two years ago, beaten little over a length into third place from a wide draw.

But there was no such trouble in the two-and-a-quarter-mile contest this time for the six-year-old, who had been nursed back to health by trainer John Dunlop after missing all of last season due to leg trouble.

Always travelling strongly behind pace-setting Alberich and Darasim, the 8-1 shot found a wide gap open for him rounding the home turn and bounded into the lead.

Valiantly though 1999 and 2001 winner Rainbow High rallied, the 6-1 joint favourite could not make it a record third triumph and had to settle for second, two lengths adrift.

Last year’s second High And Mighty (12-1) was third, with Riyadh fourth in a race run in course-record time. But the gamble of running Gold Cup-winning Royal Rebel failed to pay off as he trailed in 15th.

Eddery, who was second in the Chester Cup back in 1971 and won it on Grey Salute in 1989, was delighted that everything had gone so smoothly.

‘‘He travelled really great all the way,’’ said the jockey. ‘‘He was unlucky two years ago as he had a bad draw and never got a run.

‘‘But it was very smooth today and he quickened up well it was never in any doubt!’’

The 11-time former champion jockey, now just 15 winners behind second-placed Lester Piggott in the all-time list of British riders, turned 50 last March but has no thoughts of quitting.

He said: ‘‘I am not thinking of retiring I just bought a new pair of boots!

‘‘I have got two good stables to ride for in John Dunlop and Brian Meehan and they have got a lot of good horses. Mr Dunlop has been very supportive and as long as he keeps putting me up I will keep going.’’

Dunlop himself, winning his first Chester Cup, was away in Spain, but his travelling head lad Robert Hamilton revealed that Fantasy Hill had long had this contest in his sights.

‘‘He had serious leg problems and he has been fired but when he came back this was the logical target as he is a course winner,’’ he said.

‘‘He ran an encouraging race first time back at Newbury, where we didn’t put the blinkers on as we

thought he would be too fresh, and that obviously put him spot-on.

‘‘We had Harlestone Brook finish second here behind Top Cees but this is our first winner of the race.’’

Barry Hills is already looking ahead to 2003 for Rainbow High, who was conceding 18lb to the winner.

‘‘He’s run a great race, giving the winner a lot of weight,’’ the trainer said. ‘‘Who knows, he could be back next year.’’

George Barnett thought High And Mighty had given himself too much to do with a slow start.

‘‘He’s not the sort of horse you press a button on, he needs to get going and that’s what cost him,’’ the trainer said.

‘‘But it was a course record and he’s not been beaten far so you can’t be disappointed with him.

‘‘He’ll go for the Ascot Stakes now or we could look at the Queen Alexandra - you never really know how good a race that will be.’’