Cheshire Dancer surprises in Valiant Stakes

Cheshire Dancer made it a fine afternoon at Ascot for Hugo Palmer as she claimed a surprise victory as a 22-1 shot in the Longines Valiant Stakes.

The grey filly was ridden by Billy Loughnane in the Group Three, for which Ralph Beckett’s Chantilly Lace was the horse to beat according to the market as the 11-4 favourite.

Cheshire Dancer travelled in last as her rivals contested the lead, but then began to make progress on the outside in the final two furlongs before grabbing a narrow victory from Ed Walker’s American Gal on the line.

“I was slightly nervous during the race, it wasn’t the plan to sit last but they went an even enough gallop and she was really tough,” said Palmer, who had struck in the preceding Princess Margaret Stakes with Fitzella.

“Phoenix Of Spain is a very good young stallion, he notably has Haatem, but others as well.

“I think this is the mare’s fifth stakes winner, I think the others were all in Italy, so she is well bred.

“Horses make fools of you, I bought this filly because we had her older sister and I thought she was a black-type filly.

“She’s no longer with me but she’s still racing and she’s rated in the 60s!”