Joseph O’Brien’s ever-growing CV now includes a Ladbrokes Chester Cup after A Piece Of Heaven made stall one count on the Roodee.
A Classic winner as both a jockey and trainer, as well as also notching significant victories over obstacles, the Owning Hill handler sent three to Chester for their feature handicap of the week.
His stablemate Galileo Dame would finish well for fourth but the 7-1 chance A Piece Of Heaven was always in the box seat in the hands of Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, who simply had to wait for the petrol of the front-running eventual third Duraji to run out before making his mark.
Kevin Philippart De Foy's Maxi King also finished strongly under Toby Moore for second, but could not bridge the half-length advantage A Piece Of Heaven took with him to the winning post.
McMonagle said: "I'm very happy, it was a good run around and I was always in control of the race it was just a matter of gathering him up and getting the leader.
"He's a tough horse and he was trained for today so we're delighted.
"He's got a big stride and they went a good gallop which was always going to suit and would bring out his stamina. Big thanks to Joseph and the team at home, it's a great result.
"I was always leaning towards riding this fella as he's been improving and the step up in trip was always going to bring out more improvement, it was good to see him back to his best.
"He had a few little mishaps after Ascot which meant we didn't see the best of him last year but Joseph has done an unbelievable job to get him back to this. Hopefully he can have a nice campaign now."
Ryan Moore was at his very best as dual Derby hero Lambourn dug deep to hold off Bay City Roller in a fascinating Deepbridge Huxley Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old won the Chester Vase at this meeting 12 months ago before going on to scoop Classic honours at both Epsom and the Curragh and was sent off 6-4 favourite for his return to the Roodee.
Sporting first-time cheekpieces, the son of Australia was bustled straight to the front by his rider as George Scott's Group One-winning Bay City Roller was quickly on his heels in the hands of Oisín Murphy, with the duo remaining in that order throughout an intriguing Group Two event.
It was Bay City Roller who looked full of running having stylishly drawn alongside Lambourn entering the home straight, but the Ballydoyle raider refused to lie down and responded to every urging from Moore to seal a neck success.
Lambourn's victory provided the Coolmore number one with a record-extending ninth win in the Huxley, while the winner was made 10-1 from 14s for the Coronation Cup, back at the scene of another of his finest hours, Epsom.
"Obviously he won the Vase here last year and went on to do the Derby double and then he was trained for the St Leger but he didn't get the trip," said Moore.
"It was nice to bring him back here and even though he was a little bit rusty he kept on finding and I was always in control.
"Hopefully he can go on and have a really good season. Epsom [Coronation Cup] would look the obvious next step."
Respond sparked Royal Ascot dreams for the Highclere Thoroughbred team by running out an easy winner of the CAA Stellar Great Cheshire Handicap at Chester.
A winner of two of his nine starts prior, the feeling was the Andrew Balding-trained four-year-old had not quite lived up to home expectations to date.
The heavily backed 10-11 favourite made great use of stall two for Oisín Murphy and never saw another rival, coming home almost five lengths clear of Whip Cracker.
Murphy made it a double in the first two races when partnering Balding's Galiyan in the Boodles Darley EBF Maiden over a mile and a half.
Fourth on his debut at Newcastle recently, he still looked very green throughout but Murphy nursed him into contention before heading Joulany in the straight.
The 9-4 second-favourite went on to win by two and a quarter lengths.
