Frankie Dettori's long wait for Chester Cup glory ends on Falcon Eight

Victory on Falcon Eight ended Frankie Dettori's thirty-year wait to claim his second Chester Cup.

Dettori last won the Chester Cup, on Star Player in 1991, a race which he admits "I don't remember it."

The Dermot Weld-trained top-weight was slowly away, but Dettori decided to drop in to save ground and it proved an inspired move, although it also helped that when push came to shove with half a mile to run he was sat on the best horse.

Dettori had ridden Falcon Eight - who hails from an illustrious Moyglare Stud family - to win at Sandown two years ago and also rode him later that year in the Prix du Cadran. That knowledge certainly helped as he knew when to press the button.

"I had to go to Plan C. I know he's not the fastest away and they went fast, so I just thought 'well, I've got to take it'," he said.

"The pace was honest throughout, but I was able to take a pull and I saved ground by going all the way to the back. When we got to three and a half (furlongs) out I peeled off and went two or three wide.

"I was able to sling shot around the turn and in fairness he picked up. I know he was lumping 9st 10lb, but he is a Group horse really."

It was that manoeuvre that won him the race. Dettori found himself in the clear and with over a furlong to run the result looked inevitable, as Falcon Eight powered down the centre of the track.

"He was so much on top at the finish Dettori was able to coast over the line, winning by two lengths.

Weld does not make a habit of booking the Italian, but when he does it is a tip in itself.

"Dermot always had this race in mind - he booked me three weeks ago - and he's a master at these kind of things. He made my life easy," said Dettori.

"It's a bit like Australian racing with its short straight here, because you are on a stayer, you've got to get them going early between the three and the two.

"In fairness this horse can be lazy at times, but today he's shown a good turn of foot. Maybe the headgear worked, but he's a different horse to the one I rode in the past."

Weld was not on the Roodee to elaborate on plans, but Falcon Eight's days in handicaps are surely over having defied a mark of 104, meaning a step back up in class looks inevitable.

"He won a Listed race (at Sandown), but maybe we over-faced him too quickly after that by running in the Prix du Cadran and races like that, but he's matured now and he's worth another go in some Group races," said Dettori.

"I'm sure Mr Weld has plenty of good plans for him."