Ratings Update: Moher to come from O'Brien's Cliffs

The Chester Cup is one of the big staying handicaps of the season and the latest winner Montaly (up 4 lb to 109) proved better than ever to make a successful return from six months off the track. He looks the sort to remain competitive in similar events from a slightly higher mark in future, while Who Dares Wins (remains on 105) and Magic Circle (remains on 110) were among those unlucky not to have finished closer in fourth and fifth, respectively, and will also be of interest in the top staying handicaps moving forward.

The Cheshire Oaks earlier on the card looked a better renewal than some in recent years and the pair that dominated the betting proved a cut above their rivals. The John Gosden-trained Enable (up 5 lb to 107p) had shaped encouragingly in what looked a hot race on her seasonal reappearance and confirmed the promise of that effort with a comfortable defeat of favourite Alluringly (up 6 lb to 104p). The winner remains with potential after just three starts and looks a genuine contender for the Oaks at Epsom.

Aidan O'Brien saddled four of the eight runners in Thursday's Chester Vase and his horses duly filled the first three places, with Venice Beach (up 11 lb to 111p) giving him a fifth consecutive victory in the race. He showed much improved form to overcome the step up in grade, but looks no more than a live outsider for the Derby at Epsom and the longer trip of the St Leger is likely to offer his best chance of a classic success. 

Ryan Moore was allowed to dictate a steady pace on Deauville (remains on 122) in the Huxley Stakes and the four-year-old didn't need to improve to get off the mark for the year. Poet's Word (now 123 from 119p) shaped best on the day, forced to deliver his challenge from further back than ideal in a steadily-run race and doing extremely well in the circumstances to be beaten just a neck. The first two will continue to be of interest at this level, with the winner likely to be on his travels again later in the year (won a Grade 1 in the US in 2016).

The Dee Stakes has often failed to fill the brief as a Derby trial in recent years, but that looks set to be the route for Cliffs of Moher (now 114p from 114P) and Aidan O'Brien's charge heads to Epsom with better claims than most who have attempted to emulate Dee/Derby winner Kris Kin since 2003. He was workmanlike when getting the better of Bay of Poets (up 4 lb to 107+) on Friday, but is sure to have derived plenty from the experience and remains likely to go on to better things. Mirage Dancer (up 12 lb to 107p) shaped well under a hands-and-heels ride in fourth and is also very much one to note. 

The Ormonde Stakes attracted the race's biggest field since 2008 and the form looks well up-to-scratch, with Western Hymn (remains on 115) edging out US Army Ranger (now 119+ from 123) in a thrilling finish. The winner is versatile in terms of trip and should remain competitive at this sort of level, while US Army Ranger no longer looks the very smart prospect he promised to be when second in last year's Derby.

The Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield hasn't gone to a subsequent Derby victor since High-Rise in 1998 and the latest winner Best Solution (up 6 lb to 115) looks unlikely to break that sequence, having been comfortably put in his place on his only previous start at the highest level. The Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes looks set to have even less bearing on events at Epsom, with the winner Hertford Dancer (now 100 from 85p) – twice beaten from a BHA mark of 72 earlier in the year – more likely to be supplemented for the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot.

The best horse on show at Lingfield on Saturday was actually Qemah (remains on 121) in the Chartwell Fillies' Stakes. She couldn't make the most of what looked a good opportunity, but was disadvantaged by tactics on the day – the winner Mix And Mingle (up 2 lb to 112) raced solo on the favoured stands rail – and the French filly shaped well with bigger targets further down the line in mind.

Jean-Claude Rouget enjoyed more luck with the exciting Brametot (now 120p from 115), who took his record to five wins from six starts in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the French equivalent of the 2000 Guineas, at Deauville on Sunday. He is evidently a very smart miler and remains with potential, with the longer trip of the Prix du Jockey Club expected to be within his range on breeding. Meanwhile, Le Precieuse (up 19 lb to 117) showed much improved form to spring a surprise in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches on Saturday, but was seen to maximum effect in the conditions and is no good thing to confirm the form on different ground. 

Finally, the fairer sex were to the fore on both sides of the Irish Sea over the weekend, with jockey Josephine Gordon guiding Fastnet Tempest (now 105p from 100) to a decisive success in the Victoria Cup at Ascot on Saturday, and the flying filly Acapulco (remains on 116) making no mistake on her debut for the Aidan O'Brien yard at the Curragh on Sunday. Fastnet Tempest will be high on the shortlist for the Hunt Cup back at Royal Ascot and could be joined at the meeting by Acapulco, who is in foal to Galileo and looks likely to end her career in the King's Stand Stakes.