IF Frankie Dettori wants his title back, he'll have to fight for it. That was the unmistakeable warning issued by reigning champion Pat Eddery, who rode a treble at odds of over 94 to 1 at Leicester yesterday.
Last year, helped by injuries to Dettori, Eddery clinched his 10th jockeys' title, and he is in no mood to give it back. "I ain't going to give it up for nothing," said Eddery after completing his three timer aboard 10-11 shot Dust Dancer, John Dunlop's first winner of the new turf campaign, in the Keythorpe Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
Eddery began the afternoon by making all aboard Richard Hannon's Sir Talbot in the Bescaby Maiden Stakes at 10 to 1. The middle leg came on the Callaghan trained Plaisir d'Amour in the Gadsby Handicap. The filly was backed from 9 to 2 to 7 to 2 favourite and led approaching the final furlong to hold Last Chance by a length and a half.