Hans Holbein leapt into the picture for the Investec Derby when giving trainer Aidan O'Brien a welcome turn of fortunes with an all-the-way success in the MBNA Chester Vase on the Roodee.
The Ballydoyle handler, winning the Group Three test for a sixth time, had seen several of his potential contenders for the premier Classic, including John F Kennedy, Ol' Man River and Sir Isaac Newton, fluff their lines so far this season.
Setback
Hans Holbein only got his chance as
Giovanni Canaletto
had to miss this race after a setback and the son of Montjeu grasped it in great style as he comprehensively dispensed with his five rivals.
Ryan Moore bounced the 7/4 favourite out of the stalls and controlled things from the front, powering away to beat Storm The Stars by a length and three-quarters.
Kevin Buckley, the UK representative for owners Coolmore, said: "Ryan was told to ride him positively if there was no pace and he did.
“The horse has not run on that kind of ground before and we were very happy with the way he galloped all the way to the line – Ryan had a job pulling him up.
“That definitely puts him in the Derby picture. He saw the extra two furlongs out really well, as we thought he would.
Moore said: “He went round here well enough so I don’t see why he wouldn’t act at Epsom.”
Hans Holbein's odds for the Derby at Epsom next month varies, with Paddy Power and RaceBets going 20/1, while Coral, Ladbrokes and Betfred went 16/1, with Boylesports being impressed by offering 10s.
The John Gosden-trained Maverick Wave (4/1) showed plenty of guts to hold on and win the Betfair Huxley Stakes.
William Buick set off at a good clip on the Godolphin four-year-old and fought back to land the Group Three spoils by half a length after being headed briefly in the final furlong by Cannock Chase.
“We’ve probably found the key to him now by going from the front. I’m sure there’s more to come from this horse,” said Buick.
Collaboration (9/4 favourite) could have clinched his ticket to Royal Ascot when completing a hat-trick in the IG Handicap.
Fluent success
The Wolferton Handicap at next month’s premier summer festival had been pencilled in as a likely target for the four-year-old and he reinforced his claims by following up wins at Windsor and Epsom with a fluent success in the hands of
David Probert
.
"He won well at Windsor then went on to win at Epsom on ground quicker than ideal. He's gone up 10lb and has come here and won on softer ground," said trainer Andrew Balding's wife, Anna Lisa.
Carry On Deryck (10/1) bounced back to form by defying top weight in the Boodles Diamond Handicap.
Jamie Spencer brought the David Evans-trained three-year-old with a strong challenge to score by three-quarters of a length from Billy Slater.
Evans reported the three-year-old had been out of sorts until recently. “A couple of weeks ago he had stuff coming out of his eye and his nose. I thought he had sinus trouble. We got the vet in and he sorted him out. He can only improve from that,” he said.
Fergus Sweeney delivered the Martyn Meade-trained Navigate (8/1), with a rattling late surge to land the Betway Handicap by a length from the 2/1 favourite Northgate Lad.
The Richard Fahey-trained Young John (2/1 favourite) took the T&L Leasing EBF Stallion Maiden Stakes by thee-quarters of a length from Rogues Galley, under Paul Hanagan.
