FLAT racing in Ireland was relatively low-key in the period under review, but there was a decent meeting at the Curragh on Sunday which threw up some meaningful pointers for the future.

Perhaps none was more so than the debut win of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Saxon Warrior in the opener, with the son of Deep Impact bursting through from well off the pace to win easily.

The overall time was respectable without being special – the slowest of three mile races on the card – but Saxon Warrior’s closing sectionals, in a race in which the leaders did not go too fast to set things up for such a finish, were certainly impressive. He should rate higher – probably a lot higher – than this initial 86 figure.

Liquid Amber ran more than a second quicker overall, but 0.5s slower for the last three furlongs, when taking the Group 3 Flame of Tara Irish EBF Stakes half an hour later by five lengths and with a healthy 104 timefigure.

Willie McCreery’s filly looks a good prospect for middle-distance races in 2018.

Impressively, Liquid Amber’s time was 0.20s quicker than recorded by Elusive Time in the Tote Irish Cambridgeshire later on the card when around 1.2s slower might have been expected given their ages and apparent abilities.

U S Navy Flag is possibly still getting better after eight starts judged by his six-length defeat of Landshark in the Group 3 PlusVital Round Tower Stakes, in which he registered a 101 timefigure. This did look a weak race behind him, however.

Rain Goddess gained a deserved win in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Stakes, though in a slow average race speed despite what looked a solid enough pace (Timeform had a timefigure of just 69).

However, nine furlongs is a little-used distance at the track and the circumstances may not be the most reliable.