Bookmakers cut the odds of Youth Spirit and Dubai Fountain for the big Epsom Classic races after the pair won trials at Chester.
The first-named benefited from a power-packed ride from Tom Marquand to take the Group 3 Chester Vase.
Poised behind the leaders on the home turn, headed by 6-4 favourite Wirko, Youth Spirit became a little short of room but the gaps opened up in the straight.
The 15-2 shot challenged Fancy Man, who ran out of petrol late on and raced to victory by a length and three quarters.
Sandhurst was second for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who had saddled seven of the last nine winners of the race on the Roodee.
Bookmakers gave for the Ahmad Al Shaikh-owned victor quotes of 25-1 for the Cazoo Derby.
Tom Marquand wore his colours when partnering Khalifa Sat into second at Epsom a year ago and he said: "Youth Spirit was really tough, stuck his head out and was there for me."
Trainer Andrew Balding was represented by his wife, Anna Lisa, who said: "Andrew has always thought a lot of him and today has shown what we wanted to find out."
Listed Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks heroine Dubai Fountain (13-8f) is 12-1 for next month's Epsom version.
Despite the step up in trip, Franny Norton went for home half-a-mile out and he had a willing partner, who was always holding on from Zeyaadah.
“It will be straight to Epsom now, we were saying throughout last year we thought she was an Oaks filly rather than a Guineas filly," said trainer Mark Johnston.
"She obviously failed to win a Group race last year, but she ran some great races. We’ve been thinking about the Oaks for a long time."
Johnston last celebrated a domestic Classic winner in 2004, when Attraction scooped the 1000 Guineas.
