The grey filly was ridden by Billy Loughnane in the Group Three, for which Ralph Beckett’s Chantilly Lace was the horse to beat according to the market as the 11-4 favourite.
Cheshire Dancer travelled in last as her rivals contested the lead, but then began to make progress on the outside in the final two furlongs before grabbing a narrow victory from Ed Walker’s American Gal on the line.
Palmer, who had struck in the preceding Princess Margaret Stakes with Fitzella, said: “It’s been a great hour, when we got done on the line in the first at Chester I didn’t think it would be our day, so this is magical really.
“I said to the owners when she was third at Ascot during the Royal meeting that we would go back for the Valiant and she has since run massive when second in the Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract.
“Sometimes when these fillies find a rich vein of form and grow in confidence they improve and it’s difficult to put your finger on how or why, but she’s found that magical moment today.
“I was slightly nervous during the race, it wasn’t the plan to sit last but they went an even enough gallop and she was really tough.
“She’s been in the yard for three years and holds a real soft spot in all our hearts and it’s lovely to see the success for everyone who puts so much into her.
“She went up to 86 after the run on the straight track here during the Royal meeting and now after two runs over a turning mile she’s going to be up to a 100.
“She failed the vet for America after she finished third in the Kensington Palace. We had accepted an offer for her but that was probably for considerably less than she is now worth now, so it’s funny how it goes.”
He added: “Winning these races are important for all trainers, but what we’re really keen to get across to people is despite the fact I may have left Newmarket and moved to Cheshire, we’re still doing the same job and winning Group races and people can with confidence send us well-bred horses and home breds.”
