Newmarket trainer Michael Bell gained some belated compensation at Chester today.
At last year's May meeting his Housemaster was disqualified after winning the Chester Vase but Merry Merlin put the record straight with an impressive performance in the Smartestates 187th Year of The Dee Stakes.
Island Sound set a furious pace as Richard Quinn tracked the leader on Merry Merlin with the rest of the eight-runner field strung out behind.
Quinn made his move once in the short straight and Merry Merlin stretched clear in good style to score by two and a half lengths from the 11-4 favourite Three Points with Zyz half a length back in third.
"I know Housemaster (also ridden by Quinn) should have been disqualified but they still owed me one," said Bell.
Last year's Dee Stakes went to subsequent Vodafone Derby winner Oath but there were no clues for Epsom this time with neither of the first two entered in the premier Classic.
Bell said: "Fast ground and a fast pace are what he needs and Island Sound did a good job as pacemaker. He must have a true-run race so he settles."
Merry Merlin will not be supplemented for the Derby and Bell added: "I won't be advising the owner (Sir Thomas Pilkington) to fork out £70,000 for the Derby. The horse doesn't have any entries.
"The horse is a solid Group Three journeyman type. He'll get a bit further and we'll be looking at a continental Group Three for him."
Robert Hamilton, representing Three Points' trainer John Dunlop, said: "He was a bit keen - a bit free. I thought he would have settled better with such a fast pace.
"He's entered in the Italian Derby but the way he ran today he might not stay."
Another bound for Europe is Sossus Vlei, who landed the Huxley Stakes for Geoff Wragg.
The Listed race lost much of its appeal following the withdrawal of odds-on favourite Beat All but nevertheless produced an exciting finish with Sossus Vlei getting the better of the front-running Rain In Spain by a head under Michael Roberts
Wragg said: "He's a nice horse in this class and we'll look for something on the continent for him."
Beat All was found to be lame at the start and was withdrawn on veterinary advice but last season's Derby third was found to be sound on his return to the saddling boxes.
Damalis returned to winning ways with a convincing display in the Hill Dickinson Rated Stakes.
Eric Alston's filly had been without a victory since scoring at Sandown 13 months ago.
But she enjoyed the run of the race today to record a three-quarters of a length success over Sunley Sense.
"She got the rail today and it worked out well," said Alston. "We would have made it if the other horse hadn't gone so quick."
