Saffie Osborne: To win the Chester Cup again in 200th Year would be Epic

Saffie Osborne says it would be an epic achievement to pair up with Metier and win the Chester Cup again in its 200^th year. 

The 22-year-old became the first female jockey to win the prestigious race last year, having timed a late surge to perfection aboard the former Grade One winning-hurdler.

Metier is one of two former Chester Cup winners entered into this year’s renewal on Friday 10 May and, if declared to run, the Harry Fry-trained eight-year-old will aim to become just the 10^th horse to achieve the feat of winning two Chester Cups.

“He’s obviously up off a couple of pounds higher but to be going back to Chester with a live chance of winning it in the 200^th year of the Chester Cup would be really, really epic,” Osborne said.

“I’ll be praying for rain and hoping he goes there with a live shot. It would be really cool to back it up.”

Riding Metier to success in Chester’s most valuable race was a notable landmark in Osborne’s career last year, which is why she has such an emotional attachment to the horse.

“He was probably my first big winner,” she admitted. “It meant a lot because I had so much faith in the horse. The way he did it, just getting up on the line, gave me a huge buzz. It’s up there with one of the biggest buzzes I’ve had on a racecourse.”

The renowned Chester Racecourse atmosphere is one that she is now is relishing the opportunity of experiencing again across the days of the Boodles May Festival, as she targets further success on the Roodee.

“I love Chester. It’s something different. The crowds it brings in is great. There’s always an unbelievable atmosphere there and it’s one of the only racecourses I think that obviously has the crowd on the inside,” she said.

“You get everyone right in on the rail. I remember coming back in after the Chester Cup last year and it was absolutely rammed all the way up both sides. That just creates a really cool atmosphere.

“It’s a great meeting if you get to stay up there and walk into Chester too.”

To buy tickets for the Boodles May Festival, including Chester Cup Day, please click here.