Tajaaweed held up, headway over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, ran on to lead final strides

Unnefer midfield, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon led, headed final strides

Achill Island tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, weakened final 100yds

Alexandros raced keenly, tracked leaders, challenging on wide outside when bumped over 1f out, soon hung left and weakened

North Parade held up, ridden over 3f out, soon hung right and flashed tail under pressure, beaten 2f out

Sligo headway to press leader after 1f, raced keenly, ridden over 3f out, still challenging when not much room and hampered over 1f out, soon well beaten

Latin Lad raced keenly, led, hung right from over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened

Midnight Muse held up, pushed along over 4f out, left behind 3f out, tailed off

Recent winners of this most informative of the Chester trials have a respectable record at Epsom, with Oath in 1999 and Kris Kin four years later going on to follow up their victories here. A trip south on the first Saturday in June looks on the cards for TAJAAWEED, who left his Racing Post Trophy run behind with a likeable performance on his return to action. Backed in the morning, the winner was held up and travelling well within himself off the pace before his rider got a beautiful split up the inside as they straightened up. The winner appeared to have plenty in the tank as they raced to the line and should be suited by a further step up in trip. His size could well have been an inconvenience around here, but with Epsom in mind, connections will be pleased he had no problems with the twist and turns of this track. The Derby picture should become a lot clearer over the next couple of days, but at this stage quotes of 20-1 from Stan James and William Hill seem fair, particularly as his more fanciedstablemate Tartan Bearer still has to race above maiden company, while this fellow has shown he can do it at a notably higher level.

Unnefer - from the same family as Kris Kin - came here off the back of a solid winning performance at Newbury. He put himself back in contention at the top of the straight, and while it is hard to call whether he hit the front, he did most certainly hang to the right when he came under pressure. He is not in the Derby and, with a preference for some cut in the ground, he could head to France for suitable underfoot conditions, perhaps over shorter.

Alexandros looked to have plenty left down the side of the track. He soon got tired, though, and this evidence suggests he could benefit from a drop back in trip.

North Parade was pushed along from some way out. This level may be slightly beyond him at present, but he looks capable of winning in lesser company.

Sligo and Latin Lad dropped away after setting a good gallop, while Midnight Muse was outclassed.

*Richard Hughes, the rider of Latin Lad, reported that the colt had hung right.

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