First-time blinkers had a startling effect on Sholaan who ran away with the feature Bond Tyres Trophy at a wet and windy York.
Trainer William Haggas resorted to the headgear after the gelding disappointed when favourite at Epsom just 15 days ago.
His only previous win had come on the all-weather at Wolverhampton but he did have more scope for improvement than some of his rivals.
In a race which is usually a blanket finish, Sholaan skipped five lengths clear of Gabriel's Lad under Liam Jones to reward his backers at 10-1.
He was one of only a handful of runners to stick to the far side and Jones' decision paid off.
The likes of Priceless Jewel, Top Cop and Tioman Legend never figured.
Jones said: "He's a lovely horse, I won on him at Wolverhampton but he didn't handle the track at Epsom when Ryan Moore rode him.
"We weren't sure about the ground but he's by Invincible Spirit and they usually handle it.
"The blinkers were just to keep him straight more than anything as he ran around a bit at Wolverhampton.
"I think he could be a better horse (than handicaps) and can go on to better things, he might be a Group horse.
"That's my 11th winner this season and I won a Group Three on Harris Tweed for Mr Haggas. I've not got much lined up for Ascot but I might get some more now."
Andrew Balding has found the key to Tullius who won his third race since joining from Peter Winkworth in the close season.
Only three went to post for the Ian And Kate Hall Macmillan Ganton Stakes but the victory was not without a scare.
Doncaster Rover made the 8-13 favourite pull out all the stops but Jimmy Fortune's mount eventually prevailed by two lengths.
"He's a lovely little horse and he handled the ground well," said Fortune.
"He's done well to carry 9st 10lb, I didn't think the other horse would stay but he did.
"He only ever just does enough. The last day at Windsor it didn't look like he was going to get there and then he won easy."
The John Smith's Cup is the target for Navajo Chief (6-1) after he defied a big weight in the Ladbrokes.com Handicap.
When Kieren Fallon hit the front three furlongs out he looked a sitting duck for Paul Hanagan on Area Fifty One and the champion jockey looked to have things all sewn up.
However, Fallon got another run out of his mount to get back up and win by a neck.
"Kieren knows him very well and I think he was kidding Paul Hanagan (on the second) a bit as he's better with something to aim at," said Jarvis.
"He won in Dubai a couple of years ago but when he travelled back he was a very sick horse and we nearly lost him.
"He's in the John Smith's Cup so all I need know is for my apprentice to start riding some winners."
The Easterby clan were in good voice after Crackentorp (10-1) won the Queen Mother's Cup for the second successive year.
Trained by Tim Easterby and ridden by Jacqueline Coward, veteran trainer Mick Easterby's granddaughter, it was a real family affair.
Racing off a 10lb higher mark than 12 months ago, the seven-year-old had to overcome stall 20 and held off Honk Kong Island by three-quarters of a length.
"She's given him a fantastic ride, everything else drawn high was dropped in but she managed to get across," said the winning trainer.
"He absolutely loves it here but I didn't think he'd handle the ground. He obviously did.
"He's in the (Northumberland) Plate but I'm not sure if he'll run."
Easterby later doubled up with a nice youngster as Royal Rascal (4-1) ran away with the Reg Griffin Appreciation EBF Maiden Stakes.
Third on debut at Thirsk, she relished the testing conditions to win by five lengths.
"She's a nice filly - she did cost 42,000 mind," said Easterby of the David Allan-ridden youngster.
"Her brother Cocktail Charlie won't go a yard on this ground but she loved it.
"There were one or two nice horses in it but they didn't go on the ground."
Ruth Carr's Klynch (9-1) got up in the final stride to deny Green Park in the Charles Henry Memorial Handicap in the hands of James Sullivan.
