Knight To Behold benefited from a front-running ride by Richard Kingscote to win the Betfred Derby Trial at Lingfield on Saturday.

Kingscote took Harry Dunlop’s hard-pulling colt to the front once the field had settled down and got an uncontested lead.

Knight To Behold was at least six lengths clear entering the straight and, hard as though Ryan Moore tried to close the gap on the well-backed 8/11 favourite Kew Gardens, the 7/1 shot was still three and a quarter lengths clear at the line.

Corelli was seven lengths back in third place.

Kingscote said: “He’s a proper horse. He showed a nice attitude. I was very pleased. I think he’ll learn plenty coming round that turn. It was a good learning curve for him.”

Owned by breeder Neil Jones, Knight To Behold is a son of Sea The Stars out of a sister to Derby third Let The Lion Roar.

BALLYDOYLE BEATEN

Flattering was pushed back into third place as Perfect Clarity entered the classic picture with a game victory in the Betfred Mobile Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes on the same card.

The former failed to continue trainer Aidan O’Brien’s fine run in the significant three-year-old races just a week after her convincing win at Cork.

Both her rider Ryan Moore and Adam Kirby, aboard Perfect Clarity, lost their whips in the closing stages when they put their mounts under pressure.

Casima made most of the running to three furlongs out but she was overtaken by Flattering,  though her lead did not last long.  Perfect Clarity (5/1), trained by Clive Cox, showed a willing attitude to ward off Cecchini to land the spoils by a length and a quarter.

Cox said: “She’s only had one start previous. She was always very nice. We've just brought her along quietly and everything’s been good. With maturity, I think she could be very special. She’s an exciting filly. I think we’ll be Epsom bound now. ”

Perfect Clarity was cut to around the 20/1 mark about winning the Oaks at Epsom on June 1st. The daughter of Nathaniel was a 30,000gns purchase at Tattersalls as a yearling.

Kirby said: “I thought this would be up her street, a good stepping-stone. Hopefully she’ll come forward again. She’s got speed, a turn of foot and is well balanced. She gets the trip no problem. I think he’s got the class to go to Epsom.”

Cox added: “We were pleased to use this as a starting point. Hopefully she has given us enough confidence to go forward to Epsom. She is quite chilled at home but she is quite busy and she is very strong. We’ve just had to take it a step at a time and thankfully we’ve a nice filly to go forwards with.”

Perfect Clarity on the march in the Betfred Mobile Oaks Trial at Lingfield
Perfect Clarity on the march in the Betfred Mobile Oaks Trial at Lingfield (John Walton/PA)
Ralph Beckett was pleased with the performance of runner-up Cecchini and has not ruled out a crack at the Oaks.

He said: “We will make a decision nearer the time (regarding Epsom) but I would be encouraged.

“It was her first time on the turf. She got pushed wide on the straight and was slightly racing on her own. But I would be encouraged rather than discouraged.”

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