THE soft ground saw a depleted field for the Huxley Stakes, and while last year’s winner Forest Ranger had his own ability to handle the going questioned, he’s a big, heavy-shouldered gelding and he appeared to relish conditions as he won with Tony Hamilton having to throw everything at him.

Matterhorn has been a revelation on polytrack in recent months, and while he proved he could be smart on turf, the combination of soft ground and more patient tactics makes it hard to be certain whether he could do better still.

He travelled well, but just couldn’t pick up as well as the winner initially, while Success Days ran a solid race without having any excuses back on the testing ground which suits him so much. Addeybb handles conditions, but seemed to resent being held up and couldn’t quicken when asked before making late headway. He’s best not judged on this effort.

CHESTER CUP

“It’s been on me bucket list” grinned winning rider Franny Norton, and he finally gained a win in the historic Chester Cup after a few unlucky spins. In truth, there were only two horses who could be seen with a chance at any stage of this race, with both Making Miracles and Low Sun managing to get across from the widest two stalls. Once they got there, they were soon the only two whose colours could be distinguished in the muddy conditions and pouring rain.

“He’s got lovely big feet, and we kicked some mud back at them,” quipped the winning jockey, who shook off the attentions of the Willie Mullins-trained Low Sun by the home turn to win by a wide margin. This is not form to take forward given how compromised many of the others were, but it was a typically astute ride by Norton, who always believed he can make the bend in front here, wherever he’s drawn, and that positive thinking played a big part in his win.

Low Sun was always doing a little too much on the shoulder of the winner, and weakened into fourth, with Who Dares Wins ploughing through the slop to grab second, ahead of Whiskey Sour, who fared best of the Mullins pair despite having to come from a poor position, and he was the eye-catcher in the race if there was one.