CHESTER’S May meeting dawned damp and dreary on Wednesday, but the gloom was lifted in some style by the remarkable performance of Sir Dragonet in the Chester Vase, after which Derrick Smith’s son Paul, clearly delighted with the performance which saw him beat stable companion Norway by eight lengths, said: “That was a lovely surprise. He was a big baby at home and he obviously comes alive on the track. We needed to educate him as he just had the one run before and Aidan thought this was a good place to come.” Regarding the possibility of a run in the Derby, he added: “I suppose the lads will look at it a week or two beforehand.”