The perennial Group 1 runner-up raced away from the field in the final two furlongs to score a four length victory from outsider Sovereign Debt and Roger Varian-trained Aljmaaheer to claim a well-deserved maiden Group 1 victory.

The result was another bonus for the Godolphin operation that has bounced back from the drug scandal with a number of big victories at the track in the last fortnight.

“It is fantastic, particularly after the problems we have had over the past few weeks,” Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford said.

Crisford was quick to pay credit to trainer Saeed Bin Suroor who has now trained the Lockinge Stakes winner on five occasions.

“He won really well and it did surprise me as he has been difficult to train and Saeed has had to tiptoe with him but he has done that impressively,” Crisford said.

Bin Suroor was delighted with the win and believes the son of Pivotal can improve as the season progresses.

“He deserved to get his head in front, he has done it in great fashion and it was brilliant,” Bin Suroor said.

“When he got to the front he felt a bit lonely but he has won with a bit in hand and he should come on for the run.”

Farhh is now on the first line of the Queen Anne Stakes betting market at Bet365, alongside Animal Kingdom, while pre-race Lockinge Stakes favourite Declaration of War, who finished a disappointing fifth, has drifted to Queen Anne Stakes odds of 10/1.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien was disappointed with Declaration of War’s effort and believes something went amiss with the son of War Front.

“We’ll take him home and see; obviously there must be an excuse,” O’Brien said.

Surprise runner-up Sovereign Debt will also push forward to the Queen Anne Stakes after his career best performance but still isn’t fancied by online bookmakers.

You can find the best antepost 2013 Queen Anne Stakes odds at Bet365.

The New Approach colt was sent out at odds of 33/1 but overcame a green racing style to record a one and a quarter length victory from Trading Leather and Indian Chief.

Libertarian was having just his third start at the races, after winning a Pontefract maiden on debut and finishing well back in the Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown, but Karl Burke, representing his wife Elaine who trains the colt, said they always knew the horse had talent.

“He’s a proper horse, we’ve always thought a lot of him,” Burke said.

“Sandown was a nonsense of a race for him, he’s such a green horse.

“He’s a big backward animal and has taken a lot of time and has done nothing but improve.”

Libertarian was at triple figure odds in the Epsom Derby betting market at Bet365 before the win but is now into odds of 20/1.

Second place finisher Trading Leather impressed trainer Jim Bolger but is unlikely to run during the 2013 Investec Derby Festival.

“I couldn’t be happier with him,” Bolger said.

“Kevin Manning was always happy with him and thinks he’ll get a mile and a half.

“He might go for the French Derby – he’ll only run at Epsom if something goes wrong.”

Epsom Derby contender Indian Chief looked the winner with a little over a furlong left to run but faded in the final stages of the race and it is unknown whether connections will push forward to the Epsom Derby.

2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach is now an odds-on favourite in the 2013 Investec Derby betting market at Bet365 and is followed by Battle of Marengo (4/1), Ruler of the World (8/1) and Ocovango (8/1).

Aidan O’Brien-trained Declaration of War (6/4) is the favourite in the 2013 Lockinge Stakes betting market at Bet365 and is making his debut at Group 1 level.

Declaration of War is followed in the betting market by Farhh (7/2), Cityscape (4/1), Beauty Parlour (8/1) and Fencing (9/1).

There is plenty of value to be found in this race so our team of horse racing experts have analysed the form guide facts and betting statistics to come up with the best 2013 Lockinge Stakes betting plays.

2013 Lockinge Stakes Form Guide Facts

- The 2012 Lockinge Stakes was won by Sir Henry Cecil-trained Frankel who was ridden by Tom Queally.

- Cecil and Quelly will team up in the 2013 edition of the race with Beauty Parlour.

- Declaration of War, Fencing and Trumpet Major are all last start winners.

- Fencing is the only horse in the field to have previously won at Newbury.

- Amaron, Cityscape and Beauty Parlour have won at Group 1 level.

- Declaration of War (83%) has the best winning percentage in the race followed by Beauty Parlour (67%) and Trumpet Major (40%).

- The most successful barrier over this distance at Newbury is gate 11, which has been drawn by Trumpet Major.

- Farhh has never missed a placing in his eight race career.

2013 Lockinge Stakes Trifecta Tip

Trumpet Major (11/1) from Farhh and Declaration of War

Although he is an inconsistent galloper, at his best Trumpet Major is the class horse of the field and at 11/1 is fantastic value. The Richard Hannon-trained colt returned to racing with a comfortable win in the Group 2 Bet365 Mile at Sandown last month after finishing his three-year-old campaign with a couple of disappointing results. If the son of Arakan can return to the form that saw him finish fourth behind Camelot in the 2012 2000 Guineas he will be very difficult to beat.

Godolphin five-year-old Farhh is incredibly consistent and has finished second behind equine superstars such as Frankel, Nathaniel and Moonlight Cloud in Group 1 contests. The son of Pivotal performs well first-up and this may be his best opportunity to claim that elusive Group 1 race. Even if he doesn’t win he is almost a lock to finish in the placings and must be included in all trifecta bets.

Declaration of War is stepping up to this level for the first time and because of this it is difficult to take the short odds on offer. The War Front colt was impressive in the Listed Heritage Stakes first-up but this race is much more difficult and I’m not certain the horse is as good as he has been rated by the bookies.

You can find the best 2013 Lockinge Stakes odds at Bet365.

Society Rock has a reputation as a barrier rogue and it looked as though he may have been a late scratching as barrier attendants struggled to get him into the gates.

However, the son of Rock of Gibraltar eventually settled and the pre-race drama seemed to have no ill effect as he stormed home to record a narrow victory from Lethal Force and Gordon Lord Byron.

Jockey Kieren Fallon was full of confidence in the lead-up to the event but admitted nothing went right before or during the race.

“Things went wrong for me,” Fallon said.

“He was as good as gold going into the stalls but his shoulder hit the sidebar and spooked him.

“Drawn 18 I couldn’t get too much cover and I got there too soon.

“I didn’t know if I had won, the other horse was bearing down on me and you never know.”

Trainer James Fanshawe feared for the worst when Society Rock refused to go into the stalls but was confident the performance was a sign of bigger things to come.

“I always hold my breath when he’s in the stalls because he lost his chance at Royal Ascot last year and it’s half the battle with him,” Fanshawe said.

“He’s done a lot of work at home and he’s going to be an exciting horse this season.

“He Likes Ascot and the Diamond Jubilee will be his next race.”

Society Rock (8/1) is currently on the third line of the 2013 Diamond Jubilee betting market at Bet365 behind Shea Shea (5/1) and Reckless Abandon (7/1).

You can find the best 2013 Diamond Jubilee odds at Bet365.

Trainer Michael Stoute refused to rule out the Derby but admitted the withdrawal of the son of Galileo was a distinct possibility.

“Telescope suffered grazing on his left front and hind legs when he went for a trip on the horse box,” Stoute said.

“It has blown up a little bit which leaves us a little tight time-wise for Thursday.

“Regarding the Derby, we will know more in the next 48 hours, but we may take him for an away workout next week.”

Telescope impressed in his two runs during his two-year-old campaign and before the news of his Dante Stakes withdrawal came through was on the second line of the 2013 Epsom Derby betting market at Bet365.

The absence of Telescope has opened up the Dante Stakes with Aidan O’Brien-trained Indian Chief (11/4) the new favourite from Greatwood (7/2), Windhoek (7/2) and Trading Leather (11/2).

Indian Chief resumed with a victory in a maiden at Leopardstown on the 15^th of April and will step up to Group company for the first time on Thursday.

How Indian Chief performs in the Dante Stakes will decide whether he will join O’Brien’s strong list of 2013 Epsom Derby hopefuls.

Mark Johnston-trained Windhoek is undefeated in his three visits to the races and is another colt that will be making his first appearance at Group 2 level.

The son of Cape Cross defeated Greatwood by a short head in the Tattersalls Millions Trophy at Newmarket in April before scoring a comfortable victory in the Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes last week.

Windhoek was not originally entered for the Derby but Johnston said supplementing him will not be a problem.

“He has been a great horse already, he has to be supplemented for Epsom, but the supplementary thing is not an issue,” Johnston said.

Rounding out the Dante Stakes field is: Ghurair, Secret Number, Libertarian and Dashing Star.

You can find the best 2013 Dante Stakes odds at Bet365.

Mince (7/2) is the current favourite in the 2013 York Stakes betting market at Bet365 followed by Maarek (11/2), Tickled Pink (5/1), Society Rock (15/2) and Gordon Lord Byron (9/1).

Mince is unbeaten over his last four starts and is returning to the races for the first time since his narrow victory over Soul in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes last Wednesday.

Jockey James Doyle said the preparation of the Medicean filly has been exceptional and he is confident she can return to her winning ways.

“She’s done nothing but please me and has improved with every bit of work she has had,” Doyle said.

“I’m really looking forward to her this year.

“I think she’ll be a Group One horse.”

Irish-trained galloper Maarek is one the second line of betting but is expected to be well back if the expected rain arrives.

Trainer David Nagle believes the six-year-old is in super form but said he needs rain to win.

“The forecast is meant to be pretty bad in York and I’m the only one that hopes it comes,” Nagle told the Belfast Telegraph.

“As long as there’s no firm in the ground he’ll be OK.”

Society Rock was beaten handily by Maarek in the 2012 British Champions Sprint Stakes but jockey Kieran Fallon is confident the son of Rock of Gibraltar can reverse the result today and add a third Group 1 win to his victories in the 2011 Golden Jubilee Stakes and the 2012 Haydock Sprint Cup.

“This horse has to be up for top sprint honors again following his success in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint last year,” Fallon wrote in his column for the Weekender.

“He is a very versatile horse who was unlucky not to win first time out in this race 12 months ago, but for being stopped when making his move.”

The Duke of York Stakes is one of the few races legendary trainer Sir Henry Cecil has failed to win but exciting filly Tickled Pink is a good chance to end his drought after being supplemented into the field.

The four-year-old defeated a strong field to win the Group 3 Abernant Stakes and is another horse that won’t mind the sting being taken out of the ground.

You can find the best 2013 Duke of York Stakes odds at Bet365.