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John Gosden ensured domestic harmony as he sent out Gertrude Bell, who is owned by his wife Rachel Hood, to lay down an Epsom marker in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks at Chester.

Light Shift progressed from victory on the Roodee three years ago to land the Investec Oaks and Gertrude Bell received quotes ranging from 16-1 to 20s for the fillies' Classic after scoring under William Buick.

The home-bred filly appreciated a step up in distance when scoring at Newbury last month and relished the near mile-and-a-half trip by knuckling down to peg back front-runner Acquainted for a three-quarter-length success.

Hood said: "The trainer has made his wife very proud. She has a lovely attitude and I couldn't be more thrilled. Gertrude Bell was the most amazing woman last century and I hope she can emulate her."

Gosden added: "If you win a Chester trial, then you have got to go to Epsom. There was no pace but she has done it well, handled the track and is a nice, progressive filly."

Julius Geezer lifted the weight from Tom Dascombe's shoulders as he provided his Malpas yard with a first two-year-old winner of the campaign in the Manor House Stables Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes.

Dascombe is in his first full season in charge of the stable owned by Manchester United striker Michael Owen and Betfair founder Andrew Black, but he has endured a slow start to the season with just one prior Turf victory.

Julius Geezer came to his rescue, though, and made all in the stable-sponsored five-furlong dash to see off odds-on favourite Bathwick Bear by nearly three lengths.

Dascombe said: "His blood and scopes have all been wrong but he hasn't stopped trying and has looked fantastic. I am thrilled to have a two-year-old winner - it feels like the first ever."

Buick used forcing tactics to complete a 34-1 double as Masamah (9-1) blitzed his rivals on his first outing for Kevin Ryan in the minimum-distance Clatterbridge Cancer Research Handicap.