EXPERIENCED punters at Chester have come to realise that taking the side of Barry Hills-trained runners is often liable to yield a profit.

No other visitor has farmed the track like Hills over the past few years and the Lambourn magician bids to win today's feature event via Expected Bonus (2.55).

The £60,000 Victor Chandler-sponsored Chester Vase is the first recognised Derby trial over the full mile-and-a-half trip and Expected Bonus has the perfect blend of speed and stamina in his pedigree to suggest he can make up into a smart middle-distance three-year-old.

In the preceding Stanley Racing Showcase Handicap Jamie Osborne's Lord Melbourne (2.25) is the banker bet of the day.

Having carried all before him on the all-weather tracks during the winter, Lord Melbourne returned to the turf at Catterick a couple of weeks ago and confirmed his much-improved status by romping to an impressive three length success.

Admittedly he faces far stronger company this afternoon, but he seems to be particularly effective when going around sharp left-hand bends, the self-same configuration as the unique Roodeye arena.

There was a ton of money for Yarrow Bridge (4.25) when she ran at Warwick last month, but the dosh sadly staying in the bookmakers' satchels after a lack-lustre display by the three-year-old filly.

In mitigation Richard Hannon's runners were seemingly out of the sorts at the time, the yard having to endure a string of disappointments.

Things have picked up significantly since then with the likes of the 2000 Guineas third, Redback, leading the line for the stable.

Bath-bound Master In Law (2.40) will be seeking just a tad more good luck than on his fraught reappearance in the Listed Fielden Stakes at Newmarket's Craven meeting.

Held up in rear, he found about as much daylight as mole in drainpipe that day and in the circumstances did well to snatch fourth spot under a hands-and-heels only ride from Michael Hills.