NEWBRIDGE trainer Sabrina Harty has recently placed Ansgar with great skill to win two prestigious prizes in Britain and the Celtic Swing gelding followed up his Goodwood victory with an all-the-way success in the Group 2 OLBG Park Stakes.

Under a very well-judged ride by James Doyle, the six-year-old (7/2) held Aljamaheer by half a length with Gregorian the same distance away in third.

Ireland often has a fancied runner in this race and Ansgar was following up Viztoria’s victory 12 months ago.

Doyle was seen at his best, dictating the pace and then kicking on hard soon after passing the two-furlong pole. Aljamaheer, moving back up to seven furlongs after some disappointing efforts in the top sprints, reached him with a 100 yards to go but could find no more. Gregorian also came with every chance but the winner was simply a little too strong for the pair.

“He’s the real deal, especially over seven furlongs,” Harty said.

“James said if it had been quicker ground he’d have won easier. He’s got a massive stride so gets his rivals off the bridle easily, and he stays extremely well.”

This was Aljamaheer’s best run for a while and he nearly added to Roger Varian’s gains over the weekend, Kingston Hill’s success in the big one being augmented by Cursory Glance’s triumph in the Moyglare at the Curragh.

ESTIDHKAAR

Sorting out the pecking order among Richard Hannon’s juveniles is never easy. Ivawood looks the best seen out so far but stable-companion Estidhkaar is going the right way and ran out a tidy winner of the opening Group 2 At The Races Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs.

The son of Dark Angel, who cannot go wrong at present, beat Aidan O’Brien’s War Envoy by just over a length with Aces right behind in third.

The winner (10/11) was conceding 3lb all round but travelled powerfully and then, having taken a while to pick up, collared Aces inside the furlong pole and kept on strongly. The Dewhurst would appear to more or less pick itself as his main autumn target.

“They didn’t go quick enough for him,” Hannon observed. “We’ll have a look at the Dewhurst, where he won’t have to give 3lb. He’s very straightforward and is crying out for a mile.”

Interestingly, whereas Ladbrokes considered this no more than an adequate performance and offered 25/1 for the 2000 Guineas, Stan James were more impressed and went only 12/1.