No problems for Best Solution

● O’brien eclipsed by Godolphin in Lingfield Derby trial

After carrying all before him in the Classic trials to date, Aidan O’brien finally came unstuck at Lingfield with one of his big Derby hopes, Sir John Lavery, bitterly disappointing behind Best Solution.

It was a welcome change of fortune for Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who held big hopes of winning a first Kentucky Derby recently with Thunder Snow only for the colt to decide he did not want to run after leaving the stalls. Best Solution had finished behind Thunder Snow in Dubai but the 7-1 chance relished the return to turf, beating the staying-on Glencadam Glory by three-and-a-quarter lengths under Pat Cosgrave.

Bin Suroor said: “He is very nice. This was the plan, to run in the Derby Trial, and he has come through this well. He is in the English and Irish Derbys. We will have to talk to Sheikh Mohammed and he will make the decision.”

The Oaks Trial looked weak on paper and the fact it was won by the John Gosdentrained Hertford Dancer (8-1), who brought a mark of 76 into the race, backed up that theory. “We won’t be supplementing her for Epsom, that would be just giving the money she’s won away,” said Gosden.

At Ascot, Josephine Gordon registered the most valuable success of her career in winning the Victoria Cup on William Haggas’ Fastnet Tempest.

Sent off 5-1 favourite, Gordon produced him late to beat George William by threequarters of a length to land the £65,362 first prize in her first season as full jockey.

Haggas nearly recorded a notable double as his Sea Of Grace finished second in the French 1000 Guineas at Deauville behind Precieuse. And Haggas hit the crossbar in France again yesterday, with Rivet running a huge race in the French 2000 Guineas but having to settle for third behind winner Brametot and second-placed Le Brivido.