Chaucer pens O’Brien’s Derby tale

Aidan O’Brien clinched the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes for a remarkable 13th time as the exciting Geoffrey Chaucer continued his progress with a comfortable victory at the Curragh yesterday.

The one-mile Group Two event has an illustrious roll of honour having been won by the likes of Alamshar (2002), Azamour (2003), Sea The Stars (2008) and O’Brien’s St Nicholas Abbey and the latest No 1 contender from Ballydoyle was a 4-7 favourite following a debut win at Leopardstown.

Geoffrey Chaucer, ridden by the trainer’s son, Joseph, won by a length and a quarter. Coral cut Geoffrey Chaucer to 14-1 from 20-1 for next year’s Epsom Derby and he is now set for a step up to Group One level at Doncaster on 26 October.