Jockey Ryan Moore needed all his skills to drive home 11-8 favourite Doctor Fremantle in the Chester Vase.
The three-year-old colt missed the break, ran very keen and was then trapped on the rail behind Pampas Cat.
But as Jimmy Fortune asked for an effort on Pampas Cat, who finished third, the horse drifted away from the inside to allow Moore through.
All The Aces came from the rear to mount a challenge and take second, but Fremantle scored a half-length win.
Moore, riding for trainer Sir Michael Stoute, said afterwards: "He was travelling well, but I missed the break so had to kick up the inside in the middle part of the race.
"As soon as I got the split I was always going to win.
"I had the horse under me, he quickened up and was always going so well."
Winning owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "He is not in the Derby, but he is in the King Edward VII and the Irish Derby and I think we'll look at that route.
"We will bring him on and if he is good enough I imagine he will go for the Irish Derby.
"We would not be thinking of supplementing for Epsom at this stage and Twice Over is our main and only Derby contender at the moment.
"[Twice Over] will run in the Dante next week and is in good form. We missed the 2000 Guineas to give him the best chance of winning the Derby, and the Dante is the best Derby trial."
Chester Vase
1. Doctor Fremantle (R Moore) 11-8f
2. All The Aces (P Robinson) 10-1
3. Pampas Cat (J Fortune) 7-2
4. Double Banded (K McEvoy) 9-2
8 ran. Distances: ½ length; 5 lengths; ½ length
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