Beach books Epsom ticket with Vase win; RACING.

Byline: CHRIS WRIGHT Racing reporter at Chester

VENICE Beach booked his ticket to Epsom and added to Aidan O'Brien's strong Investec Derby team when leading home a 1-2-3 for the Ballydoyle trainer in the MBNA Chester Vase on day two of the Chester May Festival.

Under Ryan Moore, the Galileo colt - sent off the 5-2 favourite - stayed on well to beat the late challenge of stablemate Wings Of Desire by a length and a quarter. Another Ballydoyle inmate, The Anvil, who had made much of the running in the Group Three feature was a nose back in third to complete the O'Brien 1-2-3. It was a record eighth success in the Chester Vase for O'Brien, who has scored in the past with Ruler Of The World (2013) and Soldier Of Fortune (2007). The former went on to glory under Moore in the Derby at Epsom, while the latter went on to triumph in the Irish Derby.

Last year O'Brien's US Army Ranger - who runs on the final day at Chester today in the Group Three Boodles Diamond Stakes - won the Chester Vase before finishing second to Harzand at Epsom.

Venice Beach is a best-priced 20-1 with Coral and Betfair for the Derby behind 11-2 favourite, stable-mate and QIPCO 2,000 Guineas hero Churchill.

O'Brien said: "I'm delighted with him (Venice Beach).

"We knew that he stays a mile and a half. He's a little bit lazy and a little bit babyish, that's why we felt it would be important to bring him here.

"The lads will talk about that (the Derby) and decide what they want to do in the next week or 10 days. He's a horse that gets a mile and a half and handles quick ground and we think he'll improve."