Franny Norton Chester Cup masterclass shows that Miracles do happen

Franny Norton has been making miracles around Chester for a fair while now but there's been nothing quite as special as this.

It may have taken him until the third race on the last day to ride his first winner of the week at the big meeting at a track he's renowned for riding better than anyone but that was no sign his powers were waning. Far from it.

Norton's a canny so-and-so and that come-from-behind effort to conjure a last-gasp 1m2f handicap victory on Aquarium for Mark Johnston might just have convinced one or two of his rivals that those were the tactics to adopt in the following Chester Cup.

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However repeating those tactics would have been a huge mistake as the Liverpudlian, 48, proceeded to deliver a masterclass in riding from the front on the Johnston-trained Making Miracles.

Even over two laps of this ultra-tight circuit, a wide draw can be impossible to overcome, yet he was quickly out of stall 16, across and at the head of the field, while most onlookers were still wiping the rain from their eyes.

Settled perfectly on a stayer able to take things easy in front, he saw off a brief challenge from Ryan Moore on Low Sun three furlongs out and then took full advantage of the energy he'd conserved to pull fully six lengths clear in the straight and take the race for the first time.

It was also a first Chester Cup for Johnston, who was full of praise for the jockey, and said: "We'd been talking about draws all week, particularly in the sprint races, then there was the piece in the Racing Post this morning and it seemed that you'd struggle to win with a double-figure draw in the Chester Cup as well.

Joy for Franny Norton as he lands the Chester Cup on Making MiraclesCredit: Edward Whitaker

"But he's won from 16. I saw him get across without too much effort and then he was able to relax in front, never really going that strong a pace, and clearly anybody that was behind and in that melee was in trouble so it all worked to our advantage."

Not that Norton is just a man for this course, as the trainer added: "We discovered Franny Norton by using him at Chester, but he's actually the same on any track in the country.

"He brims with confidence, he never worries about the opposition, never worries about the other jockeys. He believes he's as good as anybody and he comes into his own on a very difficult track like Chester."

Johnston blamed the ground, which was changed to heavy after yet another downpour before, during and after the Cup, for the eclipse of long-time favourite Austrian School, who finished ninth under Joe Fanning.

"He showed a bit of class two-thirds of the way into the race when he made what looked a very decisive move, but no sooner had he made it than he was a spent force and Joe looked after him," said the trainer, who also had Lucky Deal finish 12th and Watersmeet pull up.

Fittingly in jumping weather, jumps trainers took the places, with runner-up Who Dares Wins improving his position again having been fourth in 2017 and third last year.

"He's run a mighty race," said Alan King. "If there is soft ground at Royal Ascot he'll go for the Queen Alexandra Stakes otherwise he'll be in the Northumberland Plate."

Willie Mullins, trainer of Whiskey Sour (third) and Low Sun (fourth) said: "I was delighted with both horses.

"Ryan Moore got a terrific run out of Low Sun. Whiskey Sour didn't seem to want to gallop early on and stayed on well. It was nice to get some prize-money in the conditions we have here."

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