Ambiente Friendly won the William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes with such conviction that he definitely cemented his place in the Epsom blue riband picture.
Ryan Moore had Aidan O'Brien's Illinois, the 6-4 favourite, leading the way as they turned to head home, followed by a wall of horses strewn all over the track.
The Irish raider defeated multiple opponents despite hanging, but he was unable to match Ambiente Friendly's brilliant turn of foot along the wide outside.
Throughout the last furlong, Callum Shepherd could afford to ease up on the James Fanshawe-trained son of Gleneagles, and he still crossed the finish line four and a half lengths ahead to win 8-1.
Coral cut the winner's odds even more to 10-1 and then 8-1, while Betfair and Paddy Power trimmed the winner from 100-1 to 12-1.
The colt owned by the Gredley family delighted Shepherd, who exclaimed: “I was so impressed with that, I can’t put it into words. He used to be very keen and could get lit up, but with the ring bit, he was so more manageable. When he went for home, he was relentless. What a wonderful dress rehearsal for Epsom.”
Fanshawe’s son and assistant, Tom, added: “He’s hopefully an exciting horse. We don’t get many horses that head for the Derby, but thanks to Mr (Bill) Gredley it looks as if we do now. He’s always been a nice mover and everything he does is effortless. We know Charlie Appleby and Aidan will have contenders, but we feel we have every right to be there.”
Regarding the O’Brien runners, Kevin Buckley, UK representative for Coolmore, said: “Illinois will improve a lot for this experience as he’s a full-bother to Venice Beach, but I like the way Declan’s (McDonogh) horse (The Euphrates, fourth) stayed on after being well back at the top of the hill.”