GER Lyons' Brendan Brackan benefited from a forceful Gary Carroll ride to land the Listed corkracecourse.ie Navigation Stakes for the second year running at Cork.

Carroll was at pains to push the seven-year-old into the lead early on and he never looked back from that point, building up a big advantage by the home turn.

Donnacha O'Brien did not look overly concerned on favourite Black Hawk War, but he still had plenty of ground to make up two furlongs out and try as they might, Brendan Brackan was not stopping in front and the 9-2 chance came home three and a half lengths clear.

The trainer's brother Shane said: "I love it when a plan comes together! That has been the plan since last year and he loves Cork. Gary (Carroll) knows him and gave him a brilliant ride - if he gave a horse as good a ride as that again I'd be surprised as that was a super ride.

"We knew exactly what we were doing going out - kicking off the bend and if something was going to beat him, it was going to be very difficult on that ground, especially for a three year old. He won't have many races next year but will come back here again. He's a horse who is worth his weight in salt to us as he also leads the good horses at home."

MAIDEN SUCCESS

Spanish Tenor confirmed the promise of his previous two starts when running out a commanding winner of the Coolmore Most Improved Maiden. Tim Doyle's 2-1 favourite stretched away from the field in the final furlong under Billy Lee, winning by three and a quarter lengths from Clongowes.

Doyle said: "It was a good performance and he has done nothing wrong and has had three smashing runs. He's getting better with each run and Billy (Lee) was impressed with him.

"That's either it now or he'll run in the Killavullen Stakes at Leopardstown. I'll see how he is next Monday or Tuesday and the entries close on Tuesday. He always looked a good horse and his runs are showing that. He's in the 2,000 Guineas - we were brave earlier in the year!"

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