CHESTER 14:45

Non Runners: MOUNT ATHOS (IRE), ERNEST HEMINGWAY (IRE). Race Distance Adjustment: +44 yds

Time: 3m 5.96s

Overrounds: Industry SP 108%, Betfair SP 100.9%

The deluge of rain throughout Thursday's Chester meeting led to the field cutting up for this year's Ormonde Stakes, Ernest Hemingway and Mount Athos notable absentees from the initial declaration stage, basically leaving a match race on paper between Brown Panther and Hillstar, and that's exactly how it unfolded; the pace unsurprisingly wasn't strong but Jathabah ensured that they didn't crawl along and things developed in earnest once Brown Panther took it up approaching the 3f marker.

BROWN PANTHER had a good 2013 season, winning twice including the Goodwood Cup, and he proved at least as good as ever to add a second pattern win to his record on this return from 6 months off, conditions more in his favour than they were Hillstar's but still needing to produce a very smart effort to see off that rival; chased leader, travelled well, went on over 3f out, kicked on soon after and found plenty under pressure to maintain around a 2-length advantage over the runner-up; the Ascot Gold Cup is the next target and he'll hold fair claims if that is where he ends up, stamina for the longer trip unlikely to be too much of an issue given how strongly he saw things out at Goodwood last season, whilst it's worth pointing out as well that often in recent seasons the big British staying races haven't been run in such a way that places the emphasis entirely on stamina, anyway.

HILLSTAR got his season on track under conditions that might not have been absolutely ideal, over a longer trip than he'd tried before and on more testing ground, running well behind a strong stayer in Brown Panther to whom he conceded first run to some extent; raced in touch in third place, not settling fully, chased leader around 3f out, driven over 1f out, one paced and was never getting to the winner; he proved last year that he can mix it in top company, third in the King George after his Royal Ascot win, and given how his trainer operates it's by no means out of the question that there's still a bit more to come in this 4-y-o season.

BANOFFEE (IRE) faced a stiff task up against a couple of highly-rated colts but ran below form, anyway, the testing ground offering a possible excuse; held up, not settle fully, struggling over 3f out, made no impression.

JATHABAH (IRE) was out of depth and well held after 7 months off, leading until over 3f out but soon beaten once headed.