John Quinn has high hopes for Duchess Dora (9-4 favourite) this season after she got up late to deny Borderlescott a popular victory in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Conditions Stakes at Chester.
"At halfway I thought she was in trouble, but she won in spite of the ground," said Quinn.
"She's quite a smart filly and I'll be disappointed if I can't win a Listed race or Group Three with her.
"In the Beverley Bullet last year, I thought we had a good draw but the ground was very soft and they all went stand side. In the end it was only the Prix de l'Abbaye winner that beat her (Tangerine Trees).
"I think she might get placed in something like the Abbaye.
"She's in the Dash at Epsom and off 102 she'd be very competitive."
Graham Gibbons was banned for two days (May 23-24) for careless riding aboard fourth-placed Noble Storm.
Confessional (5-1) overcame trouble in running to take the Stellar Group Handicap.
Tim Easterby's sprinter was squeezed for room near the rail on the turn into the short straight as Foxy Music made his best way home.
However, Paul Mulrennan quickly got him on an even keel and Confessional got his head in front in the last 100 yards to win by three-quarters of a length.
Foxy Music was second, a length and a half in front of Arctic Feeling in third.
"He loves Haydock and he loves Epsom so the two choices are the Dash or Temple. If we can, we want to make him a Listed winner this year," said Easterby.
Terry Holdcroft, who owns Bearstone Stud and bred the winner, said: "We've learned a bit more about him today.
"He's in the Temple Stakes and if it looks like firm ground at Haydock, we might have a go at it."
Easterby added: "He got the draw and everything went right, spot on.
"He loves Haydock and he loves Epsom so the two choices are the Dash or Temple. If we can, we want to make him a Listed winner this year."
Roger Charlton's Rosslyn Castle (7-1) took the Merseyrail Day Saver Ticket Handicap under James Doyle in the style of an improving horse.
Doyle said: "He's only small but he's all heart. He's bred to enjoy this ground and he certainly did. He travelled
beautifully."
