FRESH from another memorable Royal Ascot, Aidan O’Brien was quickly into his stride on home ground and the Ballydoyle trainer’s Rostropovich marked himself out as a fine prospect with his victory in the opener for the Coolmore owners.

This two-year-old Frankel half-brother to Zoffany had to settle for seventh in a Leopardstown maiden on his debut but odds of 5/6 suggested that much better was expected in the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Seamie Heffernan was content to get a lead for much of the race and, in the straight, he had to bide his time to get a run. With over a furlong to go, an opening allowed Rostropovich to angle out off the rail and he picked up smartly once in the clear. Heffernan never had to get that animated as his mount picked up smartly to cut down the front-running Medal Of Honour and prevail by half a length.

“Ryan (Moore) liked him the first day he ran. He’s come on plenty for that run. Seven furlongs or a mile is no problem to him,” said Heffernan.

Spanish Steps then made it a double for Aidan O’Brien as he turned the extended nine-furlong maiden into an utterly one-sided affair. Following two creditable placed runs, the son of Galileo and the top-class American runner Turbulent Descent was returned the 11/10 favourite under Donnacha O’Brien.

Spanish Steps led from before halfway and was in splendid isolation for much of the straight, eventually coming home 10 lengths clear of Dawn Choir.

Donnacha O’Brien then notched up a double of his own but only after Remember The Days survived a 20 minutes stewards’ enquiry into the finish of the three-year-old handicap over an extended nine furlongs. The top weight Remember The Days crossed the line with a head to spare over Modern Approach.

A lengthy enquiry followed as it transpired that the first two came close together late on. Deep inside the last furlong Remember The Days (7/2) edged slightly right and this caused momentary interference to Modern Approach as well as causing her to make contact with Thomas O’Malley. As a result Modern Approach appeared to briefly lose her balance but this most marginal of calls went the way of Remember The Days.

“He’s been running consistently apart from Navan the last day but the trip and track suited well and he got a super ride from Donnacha. I’d say he will go for another handicap,” reflected Joseph O’Brien who trains the gelding for Malih Al Basti.

Johnny Feane’s Not A Bad Oul Day (9/2) is quickly turning into one of the success stories of the season and he made it four wins from his last five outings in the featured seven-furlong handicap. A €5,000 purchase by James Mescall out of a Laytown claimer last September, the five-year-old shrugged aside a career high rating of 78 in trademark style.

David Simmonson went to the front on the teak-tough five-year-old and the pair were never troubled by another rival. From over two furlongs out, nothing was going to catch the Dermot Lynch-owned gelding who finished two lengths clear of Secret Wizard.

“It took us a while to get the key to him but he’s flying now,” declared Feane. “When he got his own way in front I knew he would take beating. He’s a tough, genuine horse who seems to handle any ground and the plan is for him to head to Galway.”

LYONS’ WINNER

Tennessee Wildcat (11/4) justified his position as the top rated runner in the extended nine-furlong conditions race as he pounced late to deny the Ballydoyle representative Sir Edwin Landseer. The last-named had most of his rivals beaten off nearing the last furlong but he was unable to withstand the Ger Lyons inmate.

A cool Colin Keane landed the Sean Jones-owned seven-year-old in front late on to score a short-head for his first triumph since the 2015 Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown.

“He wants quick ground and it was probably a bit slow for him there but he got a great ride from Colin,” reported Shane Lyons. “He doesn’t like the stick and even when it was going to be a tight finish Colin had the confidence not to resort to the stick.”

Dandys Gold (6/1) made it two wins from her last three starts with a tenacious effort under Dylan Hogan (who picked up a one-day whip ban for his efforts) in the three-year-old seven-furlong handicap. The George Halford-owned and bred filly mastered a couple of the pacesetters to lead approaching the final furlong and she contained the late charge of the 33/1 chance Magwadiri by half a length.

“Dylan was very good on her again and he makes a big difference to her,” commented Willie Fitzpatrick. “She’s a decent filly and we’ll probably give her a few weeks before she runs again.”

After a seemingly interminable wait to record his first success, which finally came at Cork the previous weekend, Queluz (9/4) followed up in some style in the 45-65 rated mile handicap. The John Geoghegan-owned and trained four-year-old dominated this race from the front for Gary Halpin and he crossed the line with six and a half lengths to spare over the weight Nivvo.

“I take a chance running him back so quick but he was just very well in himself,” reported Geoghegan. “He’ll have a couple of weeks off now and when he comes back I’d say he will be moving up in grade.”

Going to Hong Kong

AFTER the success of Not A Bad Oul Day, Johnny Feane reported that his Bigwood, who was an impressive winner of a Gowran Park maiden on his debut in May, has been sold to continue his career in Hong Kong.

ACTING STEWARDS

N.P. Lambert, E. Halley, N.B. Wachman, Mrs J.O. Onions, L. Walsh

Horse To Follow

DAWN CHOIR (Ms E. Holden): This Fastnet Rock filly was beaten 10 lengths by Spanish Steps but ran with credit in the runner-up spot and she could get her turn soon.