LIGHTNING Spear finally claimed a long-overdue Group 1 success in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

A field of eight runners went to post and much of the attention was on the three-year-olds Without Parole and Expert Eye, following their respective triumphs at Royal Ascot.

With Andrea Atzeni deputising in the saddle for the suspended Frankie Dettori, the previously unbeaten Without Parole was the 7/4 favourite to follow up his victory in the St James's Palace Stakes and found himself in front at an early stage.

Expert Eye, who was supplemented for the Sussex off the back of an impressive win in the Jersey Stakes, was always on his tail as they went just a steady pace and that pair, along with Beat The Bank, were the first to commit for home.

Without Parole weakened out of contention disappointingly, but Expert Eye stuck to his guns for James Doyle and held a narrow advantage over Beat The Bank entering the final furlong.

However, David Simcock's 9/1 shot Lightning Spear – who had been narrowly beaten in the Lockinge at Newbury and the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot on his previous two starts this season – found a gap between the pair and powered home under a jubilant Oisin Murphy.

Expert Eye was best of the rest in second, with Lord Glitters flying home to grab third.