Benvenuto Cellini ensured that Aidan O'Brien would win both recognised Classic trials at Chester on Wednesday when readily landing the odds in the Boodles Chester Vase.

A two-time winner as a juvenile before going on to finish third behind recent scorer Hawk Mountain in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, Benvenuto Cellini was sent off the 2/9 favourite to give Aidan O'Brien a twelfth success in the race having saddled subsequent Epsom Derby hero Lambourn to land it last season.

Unlike in the Cheshire Oaks, Wayne Lordan and Proposition ensured there was no hiding place in the Epsom Derby trial, setting a brisk tempo out in front. However, despite sitting well off the pace, Ryan Moore never looked in a moment of bother and produced Benvenuto Cellini with a well-timed challenge to burst to the front round the final bend before stretching clear for a four and a quarter length victory.

The front-running Proposition kept on well to finish back in second.

"He's a high-class horse and has carried a penalty there," said Moore on ITV Racing. "We're still trying to learn about this horse, the leader set a nice tempo, but the other horse (Mr Colonel) was taking back, which wasn't ideal and broke his rhythm a little bit.

"He showed real good pace to run them down and he'll come on for that run; he got a little tired inside the last furlong."

Paddy Power immediately cut the winner to 9/4 favourite (from 4/1 fav) before pushing him back out to 11/4 (fav), with Paul Smith, representing the Coolmore partnership of Peter Brant, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Georg von Opel which owns the colt, revealing that he would likely now head to Epsom.

He said: "He was a classy juvenile and better ground today and a step up in trip helped, so I was very happy with him.

"He'll certainly be going to the Derby I would imagine; we'll see what happens over the next few days with Chester, Lingfield, Leopardstown and York - they'll all be running and we'll decide which ones to take.

"He's always been a very high-class horse, and they've always liked him at home. He's got a beautiful stride on him and a really nice temperament, so he was always up there.

"He was originally going to go to Epsom for the Blue Riband and that was delayed by a week, so Aidan decided to bring him here instead as he thought he'd learn a lot.

"He learned a lot there and Ryan was very happy. He was very focused and professional. We've had a good few days and long may it continue."

By: Sam King

Photo: Focus on Racing