Ladbrokes offer a standout 16-1 while most other firms, including Coral, Totesport, Boylesports, VC Bet and Paddy Power, go 10s for the June 6 event, with runner-up Sugar Mint a general 20-1 chance.

Having opened up at 3-1 on course before going off the 9-4 favourite, the daughter of Sadler’s Wells made steady headway rounding the turn and flew down the straight to peg back Sugar Mint, who reportedly swallowed her tongue.

O’Brien was absent, but Ballydoyle representative Tim Corballis said: “It was a trial today, but an important trial for us. She was very green at Leopardstown but coped well here and is a well-balanced filly.

“I think Aidan will be very pleased with that and there is plenty of scope there. It was a messy start, but Johnny settled her nicely after that and followed Michael Hills through. She is a relaxed filly and Epsom would be a possibility.”

Murtagh added: “She has speed, stays and would suit the track at Epsom. She improved from her maiden and if she can improve again from her trial she will go to Epsom with a shout.

“She would be top of our pile at the moment after that, but the next two weeks with all the trials will tell us more.”

Sugar Mint’s trainer Barry Hills added: “I was very pleased with her and the winner could be nice. I think we will go to Epsom and she will wear a tongue-tie next time she runs.”

Chester’s May meeting would seem out of place without the customary Hills winner at his favourite course, however, and the Lambourn handler got on the scoresheet as Daraahem landed a punt as the 11-8 favourite in the Boodles Diamond Maiden Stakes.

“He is a nice horse and there is plenty of improvement in him,” said Hills. “It will have been a good education racing round the bends here and I hope he can keep progressing.

“We’ll have to see what the handicapper does, but the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot would be his likely next step.”

Frankie Dettori treated racegoers to a flying dismount after a tidy victory aboard Doncaster Rover in the fast-and-furious Joseph Heler Cheese Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes.

The Brocklesby runner-up stretched nicely clear when asked for his effort in the home straight to account for Aspen Darlin by a length and a quarter, with odds-on favourite She’s A Shaw Thing failing to land a blow.

Victory for the 3-1 chance also cemented trainer Stuart Parr’s fledgling partnership with football agent Willie McKay after he took charge of the latter’s Bawtry stables earlier in the year.

Parr said: “I was trying to win the Brocklesby for the Doncaster lads but he was touched off. It was the first two-year-old race of the season, though, and he was giving the winner 8lb.

“I have taken my time with him as he is a nice, progressive colt and he’ll go to the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. The six furlongs there won’t be a problem.”

Allied Powers made a mockery of his rivals with a two-and-three-quarter-length call in the Walker Smith Way Handicap.

Trainer Michael Bell said of the 4-1 winner: “He is very progressive and that proves his last win on heavy ground at Pontefract was no fluke.

“He’s now had three runs in nine days but may run again under a penalty and I’d say his winning days aren’t over yet.”

Philip Robinson executed a fine ride aboard Bertoliver (12-1) when kicking clear off the bend to collect from the 100-30 favourite Green Park in the five-furlong Breitling Watches & Waltons Of Chester Handicap.