Air of glory brings cheer for Godolphin

Nobody is deceived that Godolphin's reputation can be restored overnight but Saeed bin Suroor at least made a perfect start to his temporary tenure at Moulton Paddocks when Air Of Glory – a first runner from the stable since it was relicensed – won a maiden at Lingfield.

The colt's previous trainer, Mahmood al-Zarooni, was given an eight-year ban after 11 of his horses tested positive to anabolic steroids in April. He named four more who had received the same treatment, but seven others produced positives when the rest of his string was tested subsequently. The remainder were handed over to Zarooni's former boss, whose own string at Stanley House all tested clean.

For now Bin Suroor duly finds himself supervising around 400 horses. Charlie Appleby, formerly assistant to Zarooni, is sitting the courses necessary to gain his projected promotion at Moulton Paddocks, albeit Sheikh Mohammed may yet favour a total break with the past.