LINGFIELD SATURDAY

HARRY Dunlop would not dispute that his training career has been overshadowed by the feats of father John and brother Ed, but at Lingfield on Saturday he had his moment as Knight To Behold made all in the Listed Betfred Derby Trial.

This was the race which might have strengthened Aidan O’Brien’s Epsom hand but 8/11 favourite Kew Gardens ( lost a shoe) could make little impression in the straight and went under by just over three lengths. The others were beaten a long way.

Knight To Behold, 7/1, was bounced out of the stalls by Richard Kingscote, who completed a treble, and soon set up a handy lead. Fairly scampering around the final turn, he was never in danger and it might be rash to conclude that the other jockeys were caught napping. Rather, it looked like an average trial won by an above average colt.

Very fit on this seasonal reappearance, he did easily enough to justify a tilt at the big one and Dunlop was understandably delighted.

“It’s very exciting for us to be taking on these big guns and I’m a bit croaky after that!” he said. “He used to be babyish but today he was up for it. The owner is keen on Royal Ascot as well but I think you’ve got to have a go. I hope so anyway.”

The owner is Neil Jones, who had St Leger winner Millenary with John Dunlop and Derby third Let The Lion Roar with John Oxx.

Kingscote is not concerned about a change of tactics at Epsom.

“Once he’s in behind on the gallops he’s no trouble and I’m sure he’ll settle off a proper gallop,” he said.

Bookmakers were only moderately impressed and 20/1 is readily available in a market dominated by O’Brien’s Guineas winner Saxon Warrior. The Ballydoyle team have also included Kew Gardens, who lost a shoe last week, in their Derby team.

CLARITY FOR OAKS

Clive Cox has a live contender for the Investec Oaks in Perfect Clarity, who landed the Listed Betfred Mobile Oaks Trial in convincing fashion from Cecchini and Flattering.

Cox always has his horses fit early in the campaign and Perfect Clarity, a Nathaniel filly, made light of a long absence since her sole outing, a Nottingham victory last autumn.

Coming from well off the pace for Adam Kirby, she took over from Flattering before the furlong pole and kept on to hold Cecchini by just over a length, despite Kirby dropping his whip.

Cecchini will also have to be taken seriously in the fillies’ classic. Trainer Ralph Beckett sent out Look Here, runner-up in this in 2008 before making considerable improvement to oblige at Epsom at 33/1. Cecchini was well held by Perfect Clarity but kept on in pleasing style, while O’Brien’s Flattering (6/4 favourite) was far from disgraced only seven days after landing a Cork maiden on very different ground.

“With time I think she could be a bit special,” Cox said of his 5/1 winner. “She’s got size and scope, she’s well balanced and it was nice to come here over a proper trip. I’ll talk to Bridget (part-owner Bridget Drew) but I think we’ll be Epsom-bound now.”

Although some firms went 20/1 about Perfect Clarity afterwards, others were more circumspect and she was only 12/1 in places.

For the record, the winning times in the Derby and Oaks trials were very similar, just over 2m 28 seconds, two seconds slower than standard.

DETTORI’S RECORD

The other highlight on the card was the Group 3 Betfred Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes over seven furlongs, won by Frankie Dettori on Tomyris for Roger Varian.

Making steady headway on the outside of his field, Dettori hit the front just inside the furlong marker and pushed the winner clear to beat Lincoln Rocks by half a length. Varian envisages going to Royal Ascot for the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.

Dettopri was celebrating, having passed Doug Smith’s career total the previous evening and become the fifth winning-most jockey on the flat in Britain. Stream The Stars at Ascot took him on to 3,112, the only jockeys ahead of him being Sir Gordon Richards (4,870), Pat Eddery, Lester Piggott and Willie Carson.

“I’m so proud, just look at the names in front of me,” the Italian said. “I won’t get to Willie Carson, though. I’d need another 700-odd and it’s not going to happen.”

Richard Kingscote rode very well at Chester, added the Derby trial to his tally and completed a treble when scoring on Johnny Portman’s Mancini and Ashazuri.