Beat Hollow took the first step towards the Vodafone Derby in his stride today at Newmarket - but produced a difference opinion among bookmakers over his Classic chances.
After his comfortable one and a quarter length defeat of stablemate Sandmason, Victor Chandler trimmed him to 7-2 favourite for the Epsom showpiece.
Ladbrokes, however, were markedly less impressed and left his price unchanged at 7-1 favourite.
Trainer Henry Cecil expressed himself satisfied but warned: "He will need another race if he's going to become a live Derby contender."
Beat Hollow, an impressive winner at Yarmouth on his only previous outing, had been touted for some time as Cecil's main hope for the Derby.
But he was surprisingly easy to back for today's Listed race outing against four rivals.
With the possibility of a slow gallop undermining his chances, Richard Quinn wisely decided to dictate the running on the 11-8 favourite.
Beat Hollow quickened well when his pilot pressed the button with two furlongs to travel to set up a winning advantage.
With the race in the bag his stride appeared to be shortening and Sandmason was able to close the gap in the final furlong.
The remainder were well beaten off with Entisar, Godolphin's first runner of the year, nine lengths back in third.
"We've had a bad spring and I've been easy on both horses so I have to be pleased with that. They were both hollering around the paddock and are still green," said Cecil.
"Beat Hollow quickened well but Richard left him alone when he had the race won and he might have been getting a bit tired."
Beat Hollow is set to be tested further in the Dante Stakes at York later in the month.
Sandmason, quoted at 16-1 for the Derby by Ladbrokes, is pencilled in for the Glasgow Stakes at the same meeting.
Leslie Harrison, representing Sandmason's owners, said: "Far from wondering if he needs one and a half miles, he now definitely wants it.
"If he keeps progressing, and he has to progress a lot, we will think about the Derby."
With the promising Bien Entendu also in his care Cecil has a powerful Derby hand.
But the trainer is unable to make comparisons between his main two hopes Beat Hollow and Bien Entendu at present.
"They are different types and both have been working well. But they haven't worked together," he said.
Bien Entendu, a best-priced 16-1 for the Derby, may next tackle the Gartner Derby Trial at Lingfield tomorrow week.
The drying ground saw Cape Grace improve substantially on her seasonal debut to secure the Charles Hiedsieck Champagne Dahlia Stakes.
She put up a spirited performance to see off Annapurna by one and three quarter lengths in the Listed contest.
"She hadn't run for a year and got stuck in the mud when she ran at Kempton last month," said trainer Richard Hannon.
"She was off for a long time because she had a little chip on her bone after being beaten by Lucido and Oath at Newbury last year.
"I'm delighted that the owner didn't send her to America as I think she's very good and can go on from this."
Cape Grace may now try her luck in Group Two company with the Prix de la Rochette at Longchamp a possible target.
Godolphin did not have to wait long to break their duck with their third runner Meiosis landing the Portland Lodge Maiden Stakes.
The newcomer stretched clear in great style under Dubai champion jockey Ted Durcan to defeat Papabile by seven lengths.
It was the right start for the powerful Dubai operation ahead of their bid this weekend to win the two Guineas in this country and the Kentucky Derby.
"We were disappointed with Entisar but confident this one would run a great race," said Godolphin spokesman Brian Powell.
"She will come on for that - I don't think she's a Group One filly but she could be Group Three standard."
