Lambourn confirmed himself to be an improving middle-distance colt with a comprehensive success in Wednesday's Boodles Chester Vase. The 11/8 favourite was always close to the pace under Ryan Moore and stayed on strongly to win the 12-furlong Group 3 race by a length and a half.

By Australia out of the Scat Daddy mare Gossamer WIngs, the homebred Lambourn is trained by Aidan O'Brien and had previously finished second to stable companion Delacroix in the Ballysax Stakes last time out. He is a general 25/1 shot for the Derby at Epsom.

Earlier stable companion Minnie Hauk enhanced her classic credentials by providing O'Brien with a ninth victory in the Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks.

Although none of Ballydoyle's eight previous winners of the Chester trial have gone on to claim the Betfred Oaks the following month, his 2018 runner-up Forever Together did go one better at Epsom, while the brilliant Enable completed the double for John Gosden in 2017.

Frankel filly Minnie Hauk, who finished second on her Cork debut before scoring at Leopardstown in October, was a 13/8 favourite to add her name to the roll of honour on the Roodee.

And after racing on the tail of the pacesetting Queen Of Thieves for much of the way, she finished off strongly from the home turn under Ryan Moore to score by a length from the staying-on Secret Of Love.

Minnie Hauk is out of the Dansili mare Multilingual. Bred by Ben Sangster, she was bought by Coomore for €1.85 million as a yearling.