Aidan O'Brien will field four of the eight runners in a bid to extend his excellent recent record in the MBNA Chester Vase on Thursday.

The Ballydoyle handler has saddled a record seven previous winners, including in the last four renewals, of this recognised Derby trial.

The last horse to win this Group 3 prize before going on to claim Epsom glory the following month was Ruler Of The World in 2013.

This year O'Brien is represented by Finn McCool, The Anvil, Venice Beach and Wings Of Eagles. His son, Joseph, runs Dundalk winner Druids Cross.

Perhaps the biggest threat to the Irish contingent is the John Gosden-trained Cunco.

The son of Frankel made a successful start to his three-year-old campaign in the Sandown Classic Trial a fortnight ago.

Count Octave is stepped up in class by Andrew Balding after impressing at Wolverhampton and Saeed bin Suroor's runaway Newmarket scorer Tamleek completes the line-up.