But there was still a lot to like about his performance in the 10-furlong Betfredpoker Classic Trial, one leg of a big-race 18½-1 double for Frankie Dettori who thrilled the packed Esher circuit with a brace of flying dismounts.

The Golan colt came into the race on the back of Beverley maiden victory, a second place in the Goffs Million and a rather tame showing in the Racing Post Trophy on his final start of 2006.

Both Striving Storm, who led for much of the way, and 3-1 favourite Asperity had every chance with a furlong to run although the latter was carried to the left by the former, who hung badly.

This gave Dettori a dream run up the inside and the 11-2 shot kept up the gallop to score by two lengths.

"Looking at it, he will definitely improve from this and Frankie said he felt a mile and a half was well within his range," said Bell.

"He's done it very well. He's got the scope and has to be a live Derby candidate now. I don't know if he will run again now, that was his Derby trial really. We will have to sit down and talk to Harry and John.

Asked to compare Regime and Motivator, Bell just said: "Well, they stand in the same box and they are managed by the same team.

"It's just nice to have another horse of the quality to go to war with in the Derby."

The Group Three event produced a Derby winner in 1986 through Shahrastani, while 1997 runner-up Benny the Dip also progressed to victory at Epsom and Regime's odds for the Vodafone Derby were cut to 20-1 from around 40s with Corals and Ladbrokes, 25s with William Hill.

And just like Motivator at Epsom, he came into a packed winner's enclosure of syndicate members, who include Rugby World Cup-winning international Lawrence Dallaglio.

After being jumped upon by a jubilant Dettori, he said: "I've been involved for a year now. We've also got Treat who could run in the Guineas next week and these two have got us off very quickly, and it's a great success for the whole syndicate."

Dettori's other winner at a fruitful meeting came through Jeremy, who was undoubtedly the class act in terms of form in the Betfred Mile and he turned in a performance to match by zipping away with the Group Two event.

A solid performer at this level last season, the Danehill Dancer colt, owned by American Betty Moran and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, was given a ride of extreme confidence.

His stablemate Final Verse made much of the running, flanked by Road To Love, but Jeremy, sent off the 2-1 favourite and winner of the Jersey Stakes last year, made rapid strides from last to fast and was good value for the length and a quarter verdict over Bahia Breeze.

Stoute, who captured the race 12 months ago with Rob Roy, made a quick getaway, reporting: "He's in all the top races and we will have to take a step away and have a think."

Dettori added: "He's a nice horse. He was a good three-year-old last year and seems to have improved through the winter - he won very easily."

Jeremy holds an entry in next month's Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Tony McCoy, fresh from receiving his 12th National Hunt rider's title, will have drawn great satisfaction from beating his lighter colleagues at their own game in the Betfredbingo Flat v Jump Jockeys Handicap.

He also won this novelty race three years ago and steered Tom Dascombe's Bold Diktator (8-1) home from the front by half a length from General Knowledge.

The Text "Betfred" To 83080 For Mobile Betting Handicap went to Capable Guest (5-1) given a fine waiting ride by Chris Catlin to defy the in-form Dettori on favourite Humungous, coming away by two and a half lengths.