GOLDEN SWORD was too sharp for stablemate Masterofthehorse to land a 25-1 shock success for Aidan O’Brien in the Virgin Money Chester Vase on the Roodee yesterday.

Masterofthehorse was sent off the 13-8 favourite and ridden by stable jockey Johnny Murtagh, but could only finish second to his Colm O’Donoghue-ridden stable-mate in the Derby trial, which was won by recent Epsom heroes Oath and Kris Kin as well as the great Shergar in 1981.

Murtagh believes both horses have put themselves in line for the Derby, with winner Golden Sword a 40-1 chance with Ladbrokes and Masterofthehorse a best-priced 20-1 with William Hill and totesport among others for Epsom glory on June 6.

O’Donoghue ran his rivals ragged leading all the way to score by two lengths. But it probably wasn’t Murtagh’s finest hour, as he held Masterofthehorse up well out the back and despite coming with a late run the exaggerated hold-up tactics left the Sadler’s Wells colt with too much ground to make up on his stable-mate.

With trials for the blue riband again today at Chester with the Dee Stakes – which Murtagh will again be on the favourite Drumbeat – then at Lingfield tomorrow, at Leopardstown on Sunday and what has been the most informative prep race, the totesport.com Dante Stakes, at York next week, the Derby picture – as well as the O’Brien pecking order – should become clearer.

Fame And Glory is seemingly the Ballydoyle number one hope and is a best-priced 7-1 with Paddy Power and is set to run in either the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on Sunday or the Dante. While other interesting possibles from the powerful Irish stable are Black Bear Island (14-1 generally) and Freemantle (25-1 generally).

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Doctor Fremantle, who won yesterday’s extrabet.com Huxley Stakes by a short head, took the Chester Vase en route to finishing fourth at Epsom 12 months ago.

Despite Masterofthehorse’s defeat yesterday, Murtagh believes yesterday’s 1m4f Group Three contest may again proved informative.

The Irish jockey said: “Aidan said to me ‘I know it is a tight track but I would love to see him dropping in. Get him to relax and get him to finish his race’.

“Colm got three lengths on the turn into the straight and he was able to maintain it. It was a good trial, it was a good race and I was very happy with my horse.

“I think we have a very strong bunch of three-year-olds and I think that showed today. You have to ride horses for what’s best for the horses. Sometimes it turns out and you are great and sometimes you get beaten and you are not.”

On the winner O’Donoghue added: “He ran a good race and a good trial in a Group Two race in France and he is an improving horse. Hopefully he can step up again, and we have so many good horses in the yard that they have to compete against each other.”

Doctor Fremantle may also again head to Epsom for the Coronation Cup after yesterday’s win.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: “The race wasn’t run to suit him as he was forced out wide and got involved in plenty of hustle and bustle. He couldn’t get into a rhythm and then had to come wide off the bend in to the straight. He toughed it out and has got some nice entries. A mile and a half will suit him better and we’ll look at Epsom and Ascot.”

Haydock and the Old Newton Cup on July 4 is on the agenda for the Mark Brisbourne-trained Cheshire Prince, who won the opening Boodles Diamond Velocity Handicap at 25-1 under Liverpool jockey Liam Jones.

Jones said: “He went round there lovely. One set off in front so I just sat in and let him travel round. As soon as I turned in I knew this fella would gallop on and he’s nicked the race really. He’s a natural round here. He loves the fast turns and he’s done it well.”

Brisbourne added: “I genuinely thought he was short of a run. I rode a horse in work behind him on Saturday and he had a good blow. I thought this would just put him right for things to come. He’s never won this early in the year before. His main aim is the Old Newton Cup at Haydock in July.”

CHESTER PREDICTIONS (Day Three):

1.45pm Celtic Sultan

2.15pm (Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes) Drumbeat

2.45pm (Betchronicle.com Ormonde Stakes) Enroller (NAP)

3.15pm Doctor Parkes

4pm Masillah

4.35pm Aureate

AINTREE PREDICTIONS:

6pm Singing Wizard

6.30pm All For The Cause

7.05pm Mollys Garden

7.35pm Beggars Cap

8.10pm The Accordion Man

8.40pm Picot de Say