Arrest (10-11 favourite) enhanced his Betfred Derby claims with a comfortable success in the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes on day one of the Boodles Chester May Festival. And with victory in the Group Three contest, he could be the horse to try and give Frankie Dettori a final victory in next month's blue riband at Epsom, with the popular Italian retiring at the end of the season.
The success at Chester has seen Arrest installed as the new Derby favourite with several bookmakers taking over from Aidan O'Brien's Auguste Rodin, who had been the winter market leader before his disappointing effort in last Saturday's QIPCO 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. The Gosdens' son of Frankel is 4-1 with Paddy Power and a best-priced 8-1 with Unibet.
In the rain-softened ground the Juddmonte-owned Arrest was always travelling well just off the pace set by Charlie Johnston's Hardianus – ridden by Scouser Franny Norton. But once he went by the front-runner, Arrest move clear in the straight with O'Brien's Adelaide River (9-4) unable to go with him. Arrest was eased down towards the finish of the 1m4f contest, eventually scoring by six-and-a-half-lengths from Adelaide River.
