THE Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh could be the next port of call for Defoe after he made an impressive seasonal debut in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury.

Well beaten in the St Leger on his final start in 2017 after winning his four previous races, the Roger Varian-trained colt appears to be in for a lucrative campaign judged on this display in the 12-furlong contest registered as the John Porter Stakes.

Titi Makfi took the field along while Andrea Atzeni was happy to sit in fifth place on Defoe, with only Call To Mind behind him.

Defoe caught the eye when asked to improve early in the straight and it looked only a matter of time before the 5/4 favourite put the race to bed.

He duly cruised into the lead a furlong out and only had to be pushed out to score by two and a half lengths from Danehill Kodiac.

Varian said: "He looked a very progressive horse all through last year, but was as flat as a pancake after the Leger. The only consolation was that it wasn't his form at all and as you might expect from a horse by Dalakhani out of a Pivotal mare, he will, and has, got stronger.

"Distance-wise, he might be a horse we can go a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half with. I shall make an entry for the Tattersalls Gold Cup."

Defoe was given a quote of 6/1 for the Group 1 at the Curragh with Betfair, while Paddy Power went 5/1.

James Garfield confirmed his liking for the venue with a second pattern success at the Berkshire track, this time in the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes.

Winner of the Mill Reef Stakes last September, the George Scott-trained colt showed he had trained on by producing a battling display to gain a narrow verdict in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

Hey Gaman made the running and stuck on gamely as his rivals closed in, with James Garfield (3/1) challenging strongly on the stands side to collect the Classic trial by three-quarters of a length. Expert Eye, the 7/4 favourite, took second place by a short-head from Hey Gaman.

Scott said: "Anyone looking at him in the paddock could see he was fit and ready today and I liked the way he finished off his race so well.

"His attitude, his will to win and his toughness make him what he is and he'll be my first classic runner in the Guineas in two weeks. It's just a dream for me and I feel so very lucky.

"We were going away from the others at the line and Frankie was delighted. He's so cool in these situations while I'm there shaking like a tree.

"I'm pretty confident Frankie will ride him at Newmarket as he's a close friend of the Gredleys (owners). He lived next door to them for 10 years."

James Garfield was cut to 16/1 from 33/1 for the Qipco 2000 Guineas with Paddy Power. He was halved in price from 40/1 to 20s with RaceBets, who pushed out Expert Eye to 12/1 from 8/1.

Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Expert Eye, felt the ground may not have been ideal. He told Newbury's Twitter account: "He went through the stalls much better. He has done a lot of work with Gary (Witheford) and his son. He would prefer quicker ground. We will take our time before deciding which Guineas to go for."

Dan's Dream came with a strong run on the stands side to land the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury and put herself in contention for a crack at the Qipco 1000 Guineas.

The Mick Channon-trained filly was fit from a victory at Bath three weeks ago and showed she had improved plenty for that outing by springing a surprise in this seven-furlong contest, registered as the Fred Darling Stakes.

Heart Power set a decent pace until being swallowed up once the race for the line began in earnest. Dan's Dream (10/1) was the last to pounce in the hands of Silvestre de Sousa and quickened up nicely to win by a length and a quarter from Tajaanus, with Dance Diva a short-head away in third.

Although Dan's Dream is not entered in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, Channon hopes the owners will agree to stump up the cash at the supplementary stage.

He said: "We've thought a lot of her for a long time and we know she's got the class to go back to six furlongs or step up to a mile.

"But it's up to the owners where we go and I hope it's to the Guineas. She's a smashing filly and that race has been a long ambition. We haven't had much luck in it, though.

"Today the plan was to ride her like a good horse and with this filly there could be no excuses. Silvestre said she picked up well and could go either direction distance-wise."

Dan's Dream was given a first show of 16/1 for the 1000 Guineas with Paddy Power.