Young Rascal preps for English Derby with win in Chester Vase

Young Rascal overcame trouble to win his stakes debut in Wednesday’s Group 3 Chester Vase at Chester Racecourse in England, a key prep for the English Derby at Epsom Racecourse on June 2.

Young Rascal (10-3) raced in traffic in the final quarter-mile under jockey James Doyle, but found sufficient running room to reach the front with more than a sixteenth of a mile remaining. Young Rascal won the $136,000 Chester Vase by a half-length over 12-1 Dee Ex Bee.

Hunting Horn, the 3-1 favorite, finished third in the field of 10, beaten 3 1/2 lengths. Hunting Horn was ridden by Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O’Brien. They had teamed to win the previous five runnings of the Chester Vase, run at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

After Wednesday’s win, Young Rascal was rated a 14-1 chance for the English Derby in the future book. Trained by William Haggas, Young Rascal is owned by Bernard Kantor, the managing director of Investec, the financial company that is the title sponsor of the English Derby.

Young Rascal, by Intello, is unbeaten in two starts this year, having won a maiden race at 1 3/8 miles on turf against 19 rivals at Newbury Racecourse in April. Young Rascal was second in his debut last November at Nottingham Racecourse.

The English Derby candidates are led by the O’Brien-trained Saxon Warrior, who won the English 2000 Guineas last Saturday and is the even-money favorite in the future book as of Wednesday.