Chester Vase preview: Benvenuto Cellini and Water To Wine clash
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 May 2026
Benvenuto Cellini puts his Derby aspirations to the test in the Boodles ChesterVase Stakes on the Roodee.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has a fine record in this event, winning it a record 11 times and 12 months ago he saddled Lambourn before he marched on to Classic glory at Epsom.
Now hopes are high this son of Frankel can stamp his own ticket to the Derby, as Ryan Moore gets acquainted for the first time with the impressive Leopardstown Group Two winner, who ended his season an honourable third on heavy ground in the Futurity at Doncaster.
O’Brien said: “Ryan was going to ride him in Epsom (in the Blue Riband Trial), but when it got put back a week we decided we would go to Chester instead.
“He’s done very well, we’re very happy with him. It will be a nice learning experience for him and Ryan will get to see him and ride him and see what he’s like.”
Benvenuto Cellini will be joined by stablemate Proposition, with further Irish representation provided by Jessica Harrington’s Mr Vettori.
Water To Wine impressed on debut at Newbury (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Perhaps most likely to spoil the Ballydoyle party is John and Thady Gosden’s strapping colt Water To Wine, who made a taking impression on debut at Newbury.
Seen then as more of a Royal Ascot horse than an Epsom contender, he has since in fact been added to the Derby at a cost of £14,000 and will bid to enhance his reputation in a race the Clarehaven team won with Arrest in 2023.
Thady Gosden said: “He’s been working pleasingly since his debut.
“He wasn’t in the Derby, but after he won at Newbury in that high-value maiden, Mr (George) Strawbridge very sportingly agreed to add him at the second stage, which of course is expensive. He’s a grand colt.
“Hopefully it proves the right decision.”
Another trainer to win this recently is Charlie Appleby and this time around he saddles Del Maro, who signed off his two-year-old season by finishing third to O’Brien’s Derby hopeful Pierre Bonnard in the Zetland Stakes and made a pleasing winning return at Yarmouth last month.
Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “We are looking forward to stepping Del Maro up in trip and feel that the track at Chester might suit.
“We need to step forward if we are to trouble Benvenuto Cellini, but our horse goes there fit and well, while this distance should hopefully see some improvement.”
Richard and Peter Fahey’s Mr Colonel completes the field of six.
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