'He's got a big engine and Ryan likes him' - Lambourn overcomes a difficult trip in Chester Vase as Ballydoyle bounce back

The fightback starts now. After watching on as Godolphin and Charlie Appleby won the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas last weekend, Coolmore and Aidan O'Brien enjoyed a double of their own in Chester's key Classic trials when Lambourn followed the lead of Minnie Hauk to lay down a marker for Epsom next month.

Classics are the currency Coolmore and O'Brien trade in, and the importance of prepping their top three-year-old talent at Chester has never been lost on them and the May meeting again proved crucial with lessons learned for the Derby and Oaks. 

Shortly after Minnie Hauk provided O'Brien with his ninth success in the Cheshire Oaks, Lambourn made it 11 wins for the Ballydoyle trainer in the Chester Vase with a victory owing much to a steely determination from horse and rider.

Ryan Moore on Lambourn was one of the first jockeys in the race to get to work but he has an uncanny knack of being in the right place on the tricky, turning track.

Straightening up after the final bend Moore was hard at it in third on the 11-8 favourite behind Convergent and Lazy Griff, but come the last half-furlong he had his mount in front and they were well on top at the line.

Even on a lazy horse, Moore just doesn't accept anything other than victory.

"As you can see he's very lazy in the way he runs and he was first off the bridle and a little bit green, but he would have learned a lot from the track," said Coolmore representative Paul Smith.

"He's a lovely colt by Australia and we're very happy with him. He's got a big engine and Ryan likes him."

Sponsors Betfred went 14-1 (from 33) about Lambourn for the Derby and although other firms were less impressed at 25-1, Smith said the winner "has to be in the mix".

Speaking away from the track, O'Brien, who did the Chester Vase-Derby double with Ruler Of The World in 2013, went further by suggesting Epsom was on the agenda for Lambourn.

"He looked a thorough stayer and while he was a little on and off the bridle, once the penny dropped he came home really strongly," he said. "He got the trip really well and he's gone through the line nicely. We'll just have to see how they all get on in the trials but we were thinking of sending him to Epsom as they learn so much when they go to Chester."

Ryan Moore and connections with Lambourn after victory in the Chester VaseCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Lambourn's strong finish to get the better of 25-1 shot Lazy Griff boosted the profile of stablemate Delacroix, who had the winner's measure by two and a quarter lengths in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown in March. 

Delacroix was cut for the Derby himself –  to 7-1 (from 10) – and Smith added: "Hopefully that Ballysax form is strong – we like Delacroix. Lambourn ran a nice race that day but appreciated the extra couple of furlongs today. He's a good honest horse who stays the trip and will do anything for you." 

After seeing Caspi Star finish a promising third in the Cheshire Oaks, Charlie Johnston was again drawing plenty of positives after Lazy Griff went down by a length and half to Lambourn.

"That was fantastic, especially as he missed a piece of work about a week ago and for a short while it was touch and go if we'd get here," the trainer said. 

"I'm sure we can get him better and he appreciated the juice in the ground. We'd be a bit hesitant about very fast ground, but he's in the English, Irish and German Derbys and you'll certainly see him in one of them."

Betfred Derby (Epsom, June 7)
Betfred: 100-30 The Lion In Winter, 7-2 Ruling Court, 7 Delacroix 15-2 Twain, 14 Lambourn, 20 Stanhope Gardens, 25 Green Impact, 33 bar 

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