and a half lengths from the Michael Stoute trained Yom Jameel. In the 1996 Epsom Derby Chief Contender started the 15/1 eighth choice in a twenty-runner field and was ridden by David Harrison. He raced close to the leaders before tiring in the last quarter mile and finishing ninth behind Shaamit, beaten nine lengths by the winner. On 7 July Chief Contender was sent to France for the Listed Grand Prix de la Region des Pays de La Loire at Nantes in which he was again partnered by Harrison. Racing on very soft ground over 2400 metres and won by one and a half lengths from Faucon Royal. On his next race the colt contested the Group 3 Gordon Stakes (a trial race for the St Leger) over one and a half miles at Goodwood and finished and finished second, beaten a neck by St Mawes. He was back in France on 18 August for the Prix Kergorlay, a race which saw him moved up in distance to 3000 metres and matched against older horses for the first time. He disputed the lead for most of the way but came home third behind the Kassani and Nononito after tiring in the last 200 metres. His third trip to France produced a similar result as he led for most of the way in the Prix de Lutèce at Longchamp Racecourse before being overtaken in the closing stages and finishing third to Tarator. Chief Contender ended his season with a disappointing effort as he ran unplaced in the St Simon Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on 26 October. 1997: four-year-old season Chief Contender began his third campaign on 19 April in the John Porter Stakes at Newbury in which he finished unplaced, more than twenty lengths behind the winner Whitewater Affair. After an absence of over four months the colt returned for a second run in the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville Racecourse in August and, after disputing the lead for most of the way, took third place behind Classic Cliche and Orchestra Stall. In the Prix Gladiateur over 3100 metres at Longchamp on 7 September he came home third behind Orchestra Stall and Double Eclipse. On 4 October at Longchamp he was one of four British challengers in a seven-runner field for the Group 1 Prix du Cadran. Celeric started favourite ahead of Always Earnest (winner of the race in 1997), Persian Punch