Soldier tops Vase contenders

Soldier Of Fortune, winner of a Group Two contest at Longchamp a month ago, could try to stake his claim for the Vodafone Derby at Chester on Thursday.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt, available at 25-1 for the Epsom Classic, is among 12 entries for the £65,000 MBNA Chester Vase at the Roodee on Thursday.

O’Brien has also put the once-raced Glenstal Abbey in the Group Three contest over an extended mile and a half.

John Gosden will be hoping that Raincoat, winner of the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom recently, can book his place in the Derby for which he is 33-1.

Other possibles include Sir Michael Stoute’s Arabian Gulf, Michael Bell’s Metaphoric, the Gerard Butler-trained Dansant and Western Adventure from Ed Dunlop’s stable.