Trip To Paris having a pick of grass after his Cup success.
Trip To Paris swooped late under a fine ride by Graham Lee to provide the Dunlop team with a first success in the Chester Cup, notching his third successive win following victories at Lingfield and Ripon.
Gelded over the winter and rated 88 before the season began, Trip To Paris has progressed out of sight in his four runs this campaign, and he took his form to a new level when claiming the scalps of market leaders Quick Jack and Zafayan on the Roodee yesterday, potentially booking a ticket to Melbourne in the autumn with his progress showing no signs of relenting.
Sat towards the rear of the 17-strong field in the early stages, TTP still had more rivals in front than behind as the sedate early gallop began to quicken midway through the final circuit.
After suffering slight trouble in running inside the final half-mile, TTP found himself well adrift of the leading foursome as they kicked for home. Stop the race inside the two-furlong marker and only the eternally hopeful would have suggested he could win, but win he did with a powerful late surge that saw him rattle down the home straight, switch to the outside and pick up the leading pair like they were standing still.
Officially 4lb well-in yesterday for his victory at Ripon, TTP’s mark will now rise into three-figures and there are murmurings amongst his loyal band of owners that a supplementary entry for the Ascot Gold Cup could be on the horizon. Much water must pass under the bridge before then, though, but it is incredibly exciting to even begin whispering about races of such calibre and at Chester, TTP proved himself a rising stayer with a turn of foot to whom all ground comes alike: a potent combination!
Congratulations once again to all of the owners involved in the La Grange Partnership – success in historic handicaps, races which form the backbone of the racing landscape, do not happen very often, so we hope you continue to savour such a magnificent afternoon for a good while yet!