Arrest to Clarify the Classic Case of Chester

Arrest will put his Derby credentials to the test under Frankie Dettori in the Boodles Chester Vase on Wednesday, with connections unsure if the tight track would suit the colt.

John and Taddy Gosden’s trained son Frankel is fielding four competitors in the Group Three competition over one and a half miles, with the race considered a “Plan C” after the Sandown Classic was abandoned.

He opened his account at the second attempt in the first mile on the Esher circuit and, having won the Ffos Las, was beaten a head by the Dubai Mile in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Barry Mahon, European Racing Director for Operation Juddmonte, explained why racing is a third option.

“Chester may not be the ideal course for him, but we were supposed to go to Sandown and unfortunately it was abandoned due to rain,” he said.

“The Vase was Plan C as we were originally going to the Dee Stakes (on Thursday), (but) the forecast has heavy rain coming on Wednesday afternoon and evening, so we said we were going to New Ground on Wednesday.

“He’s ready to run and hopefully run a good race if he can handle Chester’s twists and turns.

Detention is in good shape. I saw him on Saturday and he did really well physically from two to three. He was a big tire last year and he is definitely a stronger horse this year.

John and Taddy said the other morning that Chester’s experience would do him good. If we end up going to Epsom, he’ll have that under his belt.

“We’ve seen it in the last few years with Aidan (O’Brien) and Barry Hills before that, he took them all to Chester for the reason that they had that experience, with the crowd at their head.

“We had two quiet days in Sandown and then in Ffos Las – there weren’t many people and not much going on.

“Travelling to France has benefited him. He has enough miles under his belt and hopefully he can handle it and the form for the Dubai Mile looks good. He ran a good race in Guinea when you look at his finish (fifth).”

There has never been a more successful combination in the Chester Vase than jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Aidan O’Brien, who have won the race eight and 10 times, respectively.

The partnership, which worked last year with Changingoftheguard, builds on Adelaide River, who finished second in a pair of threes last season before finishing third in Saint-Cloud.

The son of Australia is making his bow to the classic season and expects his rider to step up.

“He probably ran to a similar level in his three starts after his first win, and he ended up third in that one-mile, two-furlong Group One race at Saint-Cloud at the back end,” said Moore. His blog is Betfair.

“The rain will not be a hindrance to his chances and we hope he can kick back three lengths, although he has six lengths to find with Arrest at that French level.”

Hadrianus, who was narrowly defeated by Gosdens Epictetus in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, Michael Bell the Duke of Oxford, who is undefeated after two rounds in all weather, and trained Galactic Jack Andrew Balding round out the line-up.