MICHAEL OWEN dashed back from Liverpool’s Champions League win in Spain to cheer on a winner at Chester.
Well-backed Ever Given scooted clear to win by six lengths and hand Owen and his new trainer Hugo Palmer a first winner together at the Roodee.
The former England ace had to leave his hotel in Spain at 3am to make his early morning flight back home to the north-west.
Owen was part of BT Sport’s coverage of the Liverpool versus Villarreal clash as a pundit but was desperate to get back for his beloved May Festival at Chester.
Owen’s Manor House Stables are a short trip from the track and his Ever Given was backed into 13-8 like defeat was out of the question.
Owen said: “My alarm went at 3.30am, I had to fly to Charles De Gaulle as if I’d flown direct it wasn’t getting me here until 1pm and I’d have missed the first couple of races.