THERE were a few Royal Ascot clues at Naas last Monday, as several horses stepped forward with claims for a trip to Berkshire.

The King’s Stand is a possible target for Mission Central after he made a winning return to action in the Group 3 Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes. Ryan Moore took the mount on the No Nay Never gelding in the five-furlong contest and he ran out a 13/2 winner.

The Ballydoyle colt led just inside the final furlong and always looked in control in the closing stages as he recorded a three-parts-of-a-length victory over 28/1 shot Likedbymike.

“We were delighted. He’s obviously a fast horse,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “We thought that he could be a King’s Stand horse so we’ll see now. He has loads of speed. It was a good effort first time in a good race. It was a nice race for him.”

Another who could be on target for Ascot is Victorious, after her winning debut performance in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

Quality filly

The daughter of Wootton Bassett quickened up smartly to collar front-runner Aedhmar inside the final furlong and record a length-and-three-quarters victory at odds of 10/3.

“She’s lovely. She’s very green but she’s a quality filly,” said O’Brien. “She hasn’t done an awful lot and she’s obviously a very good filly. She’ll probably come back here for the fillies race, the trial for Ascot (on May 17th) and then maybe the Albany.”

Another with some nice targets is Force Noir, after a commanding victory in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden. The Robson De Aguiar-trained colt went to post a 4/9 shot in the five-furlong contest and the result never looked in doubt.

David Egan bounced out in front on the Persian Force colt and stretched clear inside the final furlong to score by four and a quarter lengths.

“He ran well the first day, when he showed a little bit of greenness,” said De Aguiar.

“We’ll see how he is after today and maybe he could come back next week for the First Flier Stakes at the Curragh. We could maybe save him for the Norfolk in Ascot. The Marble Hill is another option, if he doesn’t go to the First Flier.”

THE Blackwater Handicap produced a cracking finish as Bobby McGee ran out a game winner for Noel Meade and Chris Hayes.

There were plenty with chances running to the furlong marker in the €50,000 contest and it was the Mayson gelding who stuck his head in front in the closing stages.

Anthony O’Gorman’s three-year-old then held the late charge of Jamestown to record a short-head victory at odds of 13/2.

“He’s a nice horse. He said he was lonely in front and he would have been happier with something bringing him along a little bit further,” said Meade.

“We gelded him over the winter, which was a big help to him. We always liked him and hopefully he’ll keep coming on from this. It was a nice race to win and Chris rode him a few times last year, so it’s nice to see him win on him.”

Double up

Hayes went on to double up in the concluding Race & Stay Fillies Maiden on the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Glyfada. The Camelot filly, second on her debut at the Curragh, went to post a solid 6/4 favourite and hit the front under two furlongs out in the 10-furlong contest.

She was pushed close home by the fast-finishing Arrietty, but held on for a half-length success in the colours of Skara Glen Stables. “She improved nicely from her last run, she was quite green the last day,” said Hayes.

“I nursed her there and thought I was going to win easy. I probably dropped the revs a little bit too much on her and she had to pick up a second time. I was impressed with her and I think she’ll improve again.”

KEKE bounced back to winning ways in the Colm White Bookmaker Handicap with a dominant front-running performance. Billy Lee’s mount stayed on strongly in the closing stages of the six-furlong contest, as he recorded a two-and-a-half-length success at odds of 13/2.

Trainer Eddie Lynam said afterwards: “He’d been missing the kick a bit towards the end of last year. We were making excuses for him and I thought it could just have been that he was struggling in the high 90s. That was a 0-100 but it wasn’t the strongest 0-100. He did it well.

“I don’t know if he’ll be still going in handicaps. We had the Habitat in mind after this, but we’ll have to see. He’ll probably go over 100 and some of those premier handicaps are only 100. We’ll see, but it’s good to get the winner and Andrew Cohen is a good supporter, we’ve had a good bit of luck for him.”

In the preceding Racing TV Handicap, Amiata employed contrasting tactics under a fine hold-up ride by Colin Keane. The Ger Lyons-trained gelding swooped inside the final furlong to lead and record a length-and-a-half success over Bad Boy Rizz.

“He’s a grand fun horse,” said Lyons. “They are lovely owners, Philip and Norma Richards. I don’t think they are overly well at the minute, so I’d like to send our love to them. He’ll go up and down the handicap and win his race during the season, which he’s done today.”