Lambourn completed the Derby double at the Curragh on Sunday but it was hard work for the 8/13 favourite who had to dig deep to see off 28/1 stable companion Serious Contender by three-parts of a length.

The Epsom winner was up in the front rank throughout, and had to be ridden along fully four furlongs out just to match strides with English raider Sir Dinadan.

Ryan Moore's mount finally wore down Sir Dinadan and nothing else seemed to be able to get close to the leaders with the exception of Serious Contender who had raced in third and got within a neck of the leader at the furlong pole, before Lambourn pulled out more and edged further ahead at the post.

Lazy Griff, second at Epsom, ran on late to be third, a place ahead of Tennessee Stud (fourth at Epsom) to give the form a solid look.

Aidan O’Brien said of the winner: “He’s a very straight-forward horse that gets the trip well.

“Ryan was going to be happy if someone came with him as that keeps him focused. He’s a little bit laidback, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time but that’s him. Ryan gave him a lovely ride.

“Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way.

“He could be a King George horse, he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine.

“We minded the second horse for a handicap in Ascot that we thought he couldn’t get beat and then a horse came and beat us that was entered in the King George so it just goes to show what can happen.”

In completing the Epsom-Curragh double Lambourn was emulating both his sire Australia and grandsire Galileo. Bred by Coolmore, Lambourn is out of the Scat Daddy mare Gossamer Wings, who was beaten by a short-head in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2018.