sentences:  Although he was short of peak fitness he ran creditably to finish fourth behind Ellangowan and retained his position as favourite for the Derby.Two weeks later he was sent to Chester Racecourse where he started even money favourite for the Chester Vase over the Derby distance of one and a half miles, and won "in a canter" by three lengths from Triumph.At Epsom, Papyrus started at odds of 100/15 (approximately 6.7/1) in a field of nineteen runners for the Derby, with Town Guard starting favourite at 5/1, the two colts having headed the betting lists since the previous autumn.