THE Aidan O’Brien-trained Declarationofpeace brought a genuine touch of glamour to this fixture with an impressive annihilation of his opponents in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden which looks to have paved the way for a Royal Ascot assault.

On his debut at Navan last month this War Front colt shaped with substantial promise to take third in a maiden won by Romanised.

That initial effort meant that the half-brother to the top-class American runner Honor Code was sent off a 1/4 chance to account for his five rivals and he did so in style. Seamie Heffernan’s mount cruised to the front well over a furlong from home and he sauntered clear to finish half a dozen lengths ahead of the newcomer Treasuring.

“He’s a fine colt with a lot of speed,” reflected Aidan O’Brien. “You’d be thinking of Ascot for him and hopefully we might get another run into him before then. The timing of the Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh later in the month would fit in well for Ascot.”

O’Brien also sent out Smoulder to record a smooth victory in the seven-furlong fillies maiden and the manner of her success suggested that she will have no trouble holding her own at a higher level. The 7/4 favourite, who numbers Legatissimo amongst her siblings, eased to the front for Ana O’Brien with over a furlong to run and she had plenty to spare in defeating Artistic Melody by a length and three quarters.

“She came forward nicely from Limerick last time (finished third) and Ana was pleased with her. She travelled and quickened well and we’ll look for a stakes race next,” declared O’Brien whose charge carries the colours of Markus Jooste.

The red hot combination of Fozzy Stack and Chris Hayes were on the mark once again as the 80-rated Fasuba (9/4) dominated the five-furlong maiden. Looking to build on an encouraging comeback third, the Power gelding had this race under control from some way out.

The Stack-owned Fasuba was several lengths clear turning for home and readily dealt with the effort of the 100/1 chance Elegant Emmeline to score by three and a quarter lengths.

“He can be a little buzzy so I let him stride on which suited him and he’s done that nicely. I like him and he should build on this,” reported Hayes.

Coreczka (16/1) made it a double for Hayes in the 45-65 rated handicap over a mile. Just over a year ago the Clare Cannon-trained six-year-old recorded a hat-trick at this track and she returned to that level of form having shown promise at Leopardstown last month. Over the last furlong Coreczka got the better of Burn The Boats and she lasted home by a neck from the staying-on Rummaging.

“She was a very sick mare over the winter with a sinus problem and I thought we were going to lose her but we have the vets in UCD to thank, as she was there for three weeks. She had no racing over the winter so she’ll carry on for the summer now,” stated the delighted trainer whose father Geoff owns the mare.

Conor O’Dwyer sent out his first winner for 11 months as the reliable John Ess (7/2) claimed the three-year-old seven-furlong handicap. The Brinkleys Syndicate-owned gelding, who was placed on his three maiden outings in the spring, showed a fine attitude for Pat Smullen to overhaul the front-running favourite Hailstone inside the distance. The well fancied Settle For Bay was reported to have lost his action behind after pulling up.

“He’s a straightforward horse. Pat liked him and felt another furlong wouldn’t be a problem for him,” remarked O’Dwyer. “He’s named after a great friend of mine, John Shortt, which makes this all the sweeter and he’s owned by a great bunch of lads who have been great supporters of mine.”

FIRST WINNER

It was a night to cherish for trainer David Dunne as Colla Pier provided him with his first winner in Ireland in the two-mile handicap. The versatile daughter of Hawk Wing, who gave the owner-trainer his initial triumph at Plumpton last September, got a typically well judged ride from Billy Lee. The 10/1 chance came from off the pace to edge out Rubanesque in the final yards.

Michael O’Callaghan’s stalwart Fastidious (4/1) registered his first win for over two years in the 45-65 rated handicap over seven furlongs. The Shane Kelly-ridden eight-year-old turned in a game front-running effort in first time cheekpieces and kept on well in the last furlong to contain Burren View Lady before finishing with half a length to spare over You Gotta Move. Fastidious was 21lbs lower in the ratings than when last successful.

Acting Stewards

L. McFerran, T. Hunt, S. Collins, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

ARTISTIC MELODY (G.M. Lyons): This Zoffany filly stepped forward nicely on the form of her two last season to chase home Smoulder in the fillies maiden. On this evidence she won’t have to wait long for her first success.