Golden Sword held on to win despite a late challenge

Aiden O'Brien-trained Golden Sword stunned the field to win the Chester Vase by two lengths from stablemate and 13-8 favourite Masterofthehorse.

The 25-1 shot led for most of the race while Jonny Murtagh was content to sit at the back on Masterofthehorse.

The favourite made its move two furlongs out and challenged Golden Sword, ridden by Colm O'Donoghue, but could not close the gap in time.

Debussy, with Jimmy Fortune on board, finished in third place.

"He ran a good race and a good trial in a Group Two race in France and he is an improving horse," said O'Donoghue.

606: DEBATE How is next month's Derby shaping up?

"It took me an age to pull him up at the end of the race and I think he would have picked up again if anything had come to him.

"Hopefully he can step up again, and we have so many good horses in the yard that they have to compete against each other."

Meanwhile, Doctor Fremantle, who came fourth in last year's Derby, edged out Staying On by a neck in the Huxley Stakes.

Winning owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said: "The race wasn't run to suit him as he was forced out wide and got involved in plenty of hustle and bustle.

"He couldn't get into a rhythm and then had to come wide off the bend in to the straight.

"He toughed it out and has got some nice entries.

"A mile and a half will suit him better and we will look at Epsom and Ascot for him now."

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