A LITTLE more than 90 minutes before Authorized stepped onto the Epsom turf as the shortest-priced Derby favourite in 10 years, Peter Chapple-Hyam, his trainer, was in the winner’s circle - albeit reluctantly.

Chapple-Hyam had not wished to tempt fate ahead of Authorized’s attempt and had to be enticed in for a television interview after his two-year-old colt Declaration Of War had preserved his unbeaten record in the Vodafone Woodcote Stakes.

Declaration Of War seemed ill at ease around Epsom’s undulations but Robert Havlin, his jockey, delivered a strong run that saw him claim Bespoke Boy, the mount of Frankie Dettori, close home and win by one length.

“The race wasn’t run to suit and he ran wide on the bend,” Chapple-Hyam said. “Luckily he is a good horse and Robert straightened him out and got him balanced again. He will improve again and if the owners want to go to Royal Ascot we could have a crack at the Coventry and he wouldn’t be without a chance in it.” Dettori played second fiddle again when, wearing the blue livery of his retaining Godolphin stable on the odds-on Blue Ksar, he went down by one length to Blythe Knight in the Group Three Diomed Stakes.

Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, played down an incident at the start when the blindfold used to assist Blythe Knight’s entry into the stalls was entwined round Dettori as it flew away from the horse’s head when the gates opened.

“The incident didn’t affect his chance,” Crisford said. “There are no excuses although he is better on softer ground.” Blythe Knight had a reputation for unreliability in his youth but has been revitalised since moving to the Malton stables of John Quinn, for who he won a Grade Two novice hurdle at the Grand National meeting in April.

“He will probably have a break now and come back in the autumn when there are a few Group Three races for him,” Quinn said. “Then we’ll have another think about whether to send him jumping again.”