Broome and Lancaster House won the two Group 3 races at the Curragh on Saturday and they were part of a sparkling four-timer on the day for trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Ryan Moore.

Broome had to work hard to justify odds-on favouritism in the Holden Plant Rentals Alleged Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge had looked smart in 2019, winning two classic trials before finishing a close fourth in the Derby at Epsom, but he subsequently lost his way before returning to winning form on his comeback at Naas last month.

Sent off the 1/2 market leader on the back of that run, Broome was slowly away, with Ryan Moore pushing him up early to sit in fifth as Numerian set the early pace.

Broome looked in a perfect position to challenge, but Moore was having to get to work on the turn for home and had ground to make up on the frontrunners with two furlongs to run.

It looked as though Thundering Nights had produced a winning effort when she collared Up Helly Aa at the furlong pole – but Moore was not giving up on Broome, who responded to his every urging to poke his head in front just strides from the post.

Broome eventually prevailed by half a length, with Up Helly Aa hanging on to third, a further two and three-quarter lengths adrift.

O’Brien is eyeing a switch back up to 12 furlongs from a mile and a quarter.

He said: “He’s a lovely horse and will probably love going back up to a mile and a half.

“It was nice that he didn’t have to make the running, and Ryan was very happy with him.

“He can have a look at races like the Coronation (Cup) and the Tattersalls (Gold Cup).”

GLADNESS REPEAT

Lancaster House became just the second dual winner of the Group 3 TRI Equestrian Gladness Stakes as he made fine seasonal return.

Only Mustameet in 2005 and 2007 had previously won the seven-furlong contest twice, but Lancaster House secured consecutive victories with a very comfortable success in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Lancaster House, who was having his first start in the colours of Gay Smith, was settled in behind through the early stages as Free Solo and Brad The Brief set the gallop – but the result barely looked in doubt as Moore made his challenge with a couple of furlongs to run.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained five-year-old launched his effort down the middle of the track and was in control inside the distance, with Moore just keeping the 9/4 favourite up to his work to win by two and a half lengths.

Current Option kept on for second, with Group 1-placed Know It All in third, beaten a further length and a quarter.

O’Brien may target the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot with Lancaster House.

He said: “He’s a very solid horse – and it’s a nice bit of ground, which he likes.

“Ryan was very impressed with him and felt he had loads of horse. He finished very well.

“It was nice that he was able to drop in today and get a lead. He made the running in this race last year.

“He’s very versatile and has won over nine furlongs in soft ground at Listowel.

“Ryan said we could look at the Queen Anne, and (Wednesday’s Heritage Stakes winner) Lope Y Fernandez could go for the Lockinge Stakes.”

CLASSIC TRIAL

A Classic trial could be on the agenda for Wordsworth after he provided one of four wins for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore at the Curragh on Saturday.

The Galileo colt is a full brother to St Leger winner Kew Gardens and had made a promising start for the Ballydoyle team when chasing home stablemate and Cazoo Derby favourite High Definition at this track in August.

Beaten just three-quarters of a length on that occasion, he was sent off the evens favourite to open his account in the TRI Equestrian Irish EBF Maiden over 10 furlongs.

Moore had him settled in second behind Sunwalk in the early stages – and while Wordsworth took a bit of time to hit top gear in the straight, when he found his stride he pulled clear in decent style, beating Agrimony by two lengths.

O’Brien said: “A mile and a quarter is as short as he’d want to go. He was working very lazy, and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. He’s always behind the bridle, and I wasn’t sure if he was fit enough.

“Ryan said it was nice the other horse led him today and he felt when he got him out that he was always going to win.

“He had a good blow, and I think he’ll come on from that run – horses that are lazy usually do.

“If he progresses in time for a trial then we’ll put him in, but you would imagine it would have to be a mile and a half.”

JUVENILE SCORER

O’Brien and Moore had kicked off their winning spree with Glounthaune in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The 9/4 joint favourite was always to the fore in the six-furlong heat – and when challenged by fellow market leader Castle Star, he dug deep to win by a neck, with Kirsapp two and a quarter lengths back in third.

O’Brien said: “He’s a nice horse, and we’ve always liked him. He’ll go for a winners’ race now – and then maybe look at Ascot.

“He gets six well and looks like he’ll get seven.”

ASCOT POSSIBLE

Royal Ascot could also be on the agenda for Cheerupsleepyjean (5/2) following her two-and-a-quarter-length win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race for Fozzy Stack and Chris Hayes.

Stack said: “She had been working well but hadn’t been away anywhere. There is probably plenty of improvement in her, because she was quite green in front.

“She’s a fast filly, and six furlongs is probably as far as she’ll ever get.

“It’s Noel O’Callaghan’s family, and she’s related to Dandy Man and Sandhurst Goddess.

“Hopefully she’ll come back here (on May 3rd) for a listed race in about a fortnight. She might make into a Queen Mary or Albany filly.

“She did her best to get beat in the first furlong and a half. She was a bit startled and lit up. She is usually fairly relaxed at home and hopefully she will learn from that and be more professional the next day.”

Raise You (9/2) led home a one-two for Joseph O’Brien in an eventful Tesoro Vita Handicap.

The winner drifted across the track under 5lb claimer Dylan Browne McMonagle, impeding Tauran Shaman in particular, but still fended off Fame And Acclaim by a neck.

The stewards looked into the race, but allowed the result to stand.

Abeona sprang an 80/1 shock for Jimmy Coogan and Oisin Orr in the TRI Equestrian Superstore & Cafe Irish EBF Maiden.

Coogan said: “She’s a grand filly and came to us from Sarah Lynam. She had a few stalls issues and we had to get her re-certed.

“If we can keep her mind right, there is probably a bit more to get out of her. She’s tricky and you have to give her kid-glove treatment.

“I gave her an each-way chance, but I didn’t think she was going to go and do it like that. If I did then I would have had a few quid on her!”

Brave Display (18/1) won the closing Equine Products UK Handicap.

FREE RACHAEL BLACKMORE POSTER IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND