Puppet Master denied his stablemate Stay True to give Aidan O’Brien and team Ballydoyle a clean sweep in the Chester and Lingfield Classic trials this week.

Having already landed the Cheshire Oaks, Chester Vase and Dee Stakes on the Roodee, Aidan O'Brien completed a clean sweep of this week's Classic trials when Puppet Master followed up Giselle's earlier success at Lingfield.

The two stablemates Puppet Master and Stay True had it between them a long way out and the race still hung in the balance with a furlong to travel. Puppet Master edged his way to the front in the closing stages under Moore, but his stablemate Stay True, who arrived having won his only start to date last season, wasn't going to go down without a fight.

It briefly looked as though Stay True was going to get on top late on, but despite drifting off a true line, Puppet Master found enough to repel the challenge by a short-head.

The winner had to endure a stewards' enquiry, but the places remained unaltered.

"He's a nice horse who we've always held in high-regard," said Moore on ITV Racing.

"He's done well because going downhill on that ground probably wasn't ideal for him.

"The second horse is a lovely horse as well. They're two nice horses going forward."

Paddy Power cut the winner to 25/1 (from 50s) for the Epsom Derby in June.

On the excellent past week for team Ballydoyle, Coolmore's Paul Smith said: "It's been a great week and these are two lovely horses who hit the line hard.

"Ryan said Puppet Master relaxed well and is quite an uncomplicated horse. I think the deciding factor of Ryan riding him was that he had the greater experience.

"Richard (Kingscote) was very encouraged by Stay True. He said he's still a bit of a baby on just a second run and will get the trip nicely.

"It was interesting that the further they went, the further they went clear of the third horse.

"We will see what happens, as we have runners in France and at York and there's always the Irish Derby and Ascot as well as Epsom.

"The Delacroix form looks strong, and we like him and the two that finished behind him. The Lion In Winter did a piece of work the other day and heads to the Dante."