Pride Of Arras Bounces Back In The Voltigeur As Lambourn Disappoints

[Wandering Eyes]

Bouncing back from two disappointing Derby displays, the Aykroyds' Pride Of Arras (New Bay) showed the benefit of a gelding operation to land Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. Sent off at 12-1 despite his impressive Dante success here in May, the Ralph Beckett-trained homebred stayed on powerfully to take control approaching the furlong pole and beat the similarly-penalised Queen's Vase winner Carmers (Wootton Bassett). The Derby and Irish Derby winner Lambourn (Australia) ran flat in fifth.

“I actually brought him here slightly underdone, having gelded him at the beginning of July and I've only really done maintenance stuff with him,” Beckett explained. “That was because it seemed to suit him the last time we brought him here and also because I wanted him to run well more than anything else.”

“Really we came here with no expectation, but I think the track and the flat nature of York suits him really well,” he added. “I wasn't at all happy with the way he moved in the first half-mile at the Curragh, which isn't exactly undulating anyway. He just wasn't enjoying himself that day any more than he was at Epsom. After that it was a very easy decision to geld him. I would be tempted to think about California and Hong Kong for him. I think the nature of those races will suit him really well.”

Pride Of Arras is back!

The Dante winner bounces back in the @SkyBet Great Voltigeur and at 12/1 for @Rossaryan15 and @RalphBeckett pic.twitter.com/tnkZ2VJfaS

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 20, 2025

The post Pride Of Arras Bounces Back In The Voltigeur As Lambourn Disappoints appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article