Rank outsider Bulwark flew from nowhere to win the race thanks to more than a bit of help from jockey Jim Crowley.

Crowley burst through with a late rattle to collar Som Tala by half a length with Tilt a further neck back in third and winning trainer Williams revealed he bought the winner for 36,000gns on the advice of jockey Crowley who told him that there was a Chester Cup in the horse.

Williams said: "Jim said to me when I first spoke to him about the horse that he could win a Chester Cup.

"This is just fantastic - the owners are local people and have always wanted to win the Chester Cup. Now they have managed to do it in their first season.

"He could now go to Haydock at the end of the month or go to Royal Ascot. He's not in the Gold Cup, but the Ascot Stakes is a possibility."

The winning connections of Peter Legros and Dr Marwan Koucash from Liverpool had to survive a stewards enquiry before they got the hands on the coveted Chester Cup. Legros has owned horses for nearly 20 years , and this was his biggest success.

He met his co owner Dr Marwan Koucash when he was building a hotel for him nine months ago and persuaded him to have a half share in the winner, which turned out to be very shrewd advice.

The day got off to a flying start, literally as Frankie Dettori treated the crowd to one of his trademark flying dismounts following his victory aboard Doncaster Rover in the opening Joseph Heler Cheese Lily Agnes stakes.

The War Chant colt had a length and a quarter to spare over the Alan Bailey trained Aspen Darlin. Trainer Stuart Parr is one of the new kids on the block as he only took out a training licence for the start of the season, He has had years of experience working for Geoff Wragg and Jeremy Glover.

He was elated to get his first winner under his belt at the Roodee and said: "I am over the moon to be training in my own right, it is a dream come true.

"This is the best two year that I have in the yard, and I honestly see him as a Coventry type horse at Royal Ascot. It is great to have a two year old this good in my first season."

The Weatheby's Bank Cheshire Oaks looked to be going the way of the Barry Hill's trained Sugar Mint until the Johnny Murtagh ridden Sail came late and fast to win a thriller by half a length.

The winning trainer Aiden O Brien was represented at the course by Tim Corballis, who said: "That was a very good Epsom Oaks trial, he ran very green at Leopardstown and Johnny said that he was a very patient horse with a good temperment, and that he she had plenty of scope."

Most bookmakers shortened the winner into 10-1 from 25-1 for the Epsom Oaks, the runner up is generally around 20-1 from 25-1, the exception being Victor Chandler who have cut Sugar Mint into 14-1.

Bertoliver from the Dean Ivory yard made every yard from the unfashionable number seven draw to win the Brietling Watches Of Walton handicap stakes over five furlongs under a very positive ride from Phillip Robinson, the combination were a length and half too good at the post for Green Park with Ebraam a further half length back in third.

Readers who took my advice that the Barry Hills trained Daraahem was a good thing in the Boodles Diamond Maiden Stakes, hopefully took the opening price as the winner was backed down from 5-2 to 11-8 favourite at the off.

The Act One gelding took up the running at the furlong pole and won going away from the long time leader Moonquake to win going away by 2 lengths. Maraased was a further head back in third.

Hills said afterwards that the winner had got plenty of improvement in him, and added that the King George Handicap at Royal Ascot was a possibility.

The last race was the Walker Smith Way Handicap Stakes over a mile and a half.

The first two past the jam stick both came from a long way back. Jamie Spencer held up Allied Powers and timed his run to perfection to win going away by two and three quarter lengths from Patkai with Burn The Breeze a further length and a quarter back in third.

Winning trainer Michael Bell said afterwards that the winner earned a rest as it was his third race in nine days.

Yesterday's crowd at The Roodee was 17,960.