Some of the first clues in the puzzle of the Derby were revealed yesterday as Beat All emerged a convincing winner of the Green Ridge Stables Newmarket Stakes. The 11 to 2 chance took charge with a furlong to travel in the Listed event and galloped on powerfully to prevail by three lengths from Godolphin's first runner Mukahlif.

Mukhalif, sent off the 15 to 8 favourite, did not experience the best of runs but he was probably only second best anyway. Beat All registered a time only 0.89 seconds outside the course record. Pat Eddery was suitably impressed and said: "I'm sure he can improve further and on his breeding there should be no problem about him staying one and a half miles.

Beat All will now be aimed at a Derby trial with the Predominate Stakes at Goodwood a likely target.

With the ground riding on the fast side of good, conditions appeared to be against Putuna in the Dahlia Stakes. But the filly, strongly-ridden by Kieren Fallon, shrugged off the conditions to gamely deny the well-backed favourite Maria Isabella by three-parts of a length.