Playapart, the well-supported 5-6 favourite, stayed on well down the outside but was unable to land a blow and was back in third.

This race is often used as a stepping stone for next month’s Vodafone Derby but Sohaib does not hold an entry, although he could be supplemented the week before the Epsom Classic.

‘‘My first winner in this race was Golden Monad in 1971, I think,’’ Hills said.

‘‘You have got to get the tactics right around here, he has a high cruising speed, he quickened up and he stayed well.

‘‘There is nothing special for him at the moment, but I think we will stick to a mile and a quarter, this seems to suit him.’’

Epsom may not be on the cards for Sohaib, but it is for both the runner-up and third.

Sir George Turner’s trainer Mark Johnston revealed that his charge could be equipped with blinkers in the big race.

‘‘I know it’s not very popular over here sometimes but in the Kentucky Derby there were plenty wearing blinkers on Saturday and it didn’t seem to be stopping them,’’ he said.

‘‘I trained his half-brother, Tissifer, and he was certainly a real strange one. I knew it was possible this fellow could have some quirks too.

‘‘He likes to have plenty of space and when the other horse rolled towards him I think he just got a bit nervous. He made his own trouble.

‘‘He could go for the Dante before the Derby. We’ll see how he takes this race.’’

Playapart’s trainer, Gerard Butler, looked downcast after the event.

‘‘He didn’t get the run of the race and to win from where he was at the start of the straight he would have needed wings,’’ Butler said.

‘‘The plan was always to come here to further his education before Epsom and hopefully that is what we have done.

‘‘I should think he’ll still run in the Derby.’’

Rather predictably, the race failed to set the betting market for the Derby alight.

Sir George Turner is a best-priced 40-1 chance with Victor Chandler while the Tote pushed Playapart out to 50s.

Butler and stable jockey Eddie Ahern had found rather more to smile about after Compton Banker had returned from the wilderness to take the Norfolk Hotel Birmingham Rates Stakes.

Having been a hugely-promising sprinter two seasons ago, the Gerard Butler-trained performer totally lost his way last year, failing by some way to find the frame on his six starts.

But with the handicapper starting to relent, Compton Banker was able to build on the promise of a Newbury reappearance to oblige at 7-1 under Ahern, who was notching his 12th winner of the year.

Despite a slow start he came fast and late to win by a neck from long-time leader James Stark with favourite Corridor Creeper third.

‘‘He isn’t the fastest horse out of the gates so we knew Eddie might find it tricky given that he was drawn on the inside but he has been given the perfect Chester ride,’’ said Butler.

‘‘Hopefully the handicapper can’t do too much to him for this and we might look at the Wokingham.’’