Starford finished with a flourish to lead home a one-two for Joseph O’Brien in the Tote Alleged Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

A quality field of 12 runners went to post for the Group 3 feature, with British raider Royal Rhyme the 100/30 favourite to round off a good weekend for trainer Karl Burke after saddling Alparslan and Convergent to win at this level at Newbury on Saturday.

Royal Rhyme appeared to be travelling best of all when moving to the lead passing the two-furlong marker, but having been off the track since the Tattersalls Gold Cup 11 months ago, a lack of a recent run told late on and he weakened out of contention.

Race fitness was never going to be an issue for 9/1 shot Starford, who blew away any cobwebs with a fifth place finish in handicap company here just a fortnight ago, and he showed the benefit of that run with a strong-finishing effort under Scott McCullagh, getting up to beat stablemate Beset by three-quarters of a length.

Red Letter beat Green Impact to third place, with the previously unbeaten but long-absent Twain doing his best work at the finish in fifth.

Of the winner, O’Brien said: “He’s a good horse, he was very progressive last year and he had a nice run from a bad draw in the handicap here on his first run of the season.

“He had a bad draw again today but we let him take his chance. Scott got a fantastic spot from the draw and got the rail run around.

“The bottom line is that he’s a smart horse. He handles soft ground well and had the benefit of a run, which is always a help at this time of year.”

O'Brien was also pleased with the performance of runner-up Beset, adding: “She ran great and it’s a Group 3 placing for a filly with a big pedigree.

“She ran right up to form, so I’m very happy with her.”

Runaway debut success

Earlier on the card Great Barrier Reef lived up to his tall reputation with a runaway debut success.

The Ballydoyle dogs have been barking the name of this son of No Nay Never in recent weeks and he was a prohibitively priced 4/9 favourite for his competitive introduction in the Irish National Stud Irish EBF Maiden under Ryan Moore.

Odds-on backers will have had few concerns, with Aidan O’Brien’s chestnut colt travelling with ease at all stages and rocketing six lengths clear of the chasing pack without being fully extended. Ischgl, a previously unraced 100/1 shot, was best of the rest in second.

O’Brien said: “We’re delighted. He’s never been away or asked anything so he was obviously green. You’d have to be very happy with him.

“He was always lovely but he was never asked anything. When they are like that you don’t know what’s going to happen really.”

On a potential trip to Royal Ascot, the trainer added: “He’d obviously have to have another run before as he was very green.

“He’s by No Nay Never, he’s an influence for speed, but we always thought he was a six-furlong horse and would get seven.

“We always viewed him as a horse that would turn into a Coventry/Dewhurst type horse.”

Royal Ascot ambitions

Joseph O’Brien has Royal Ascot in mind for Star Prospect after he lived up to his name in the Arizona Blaze Standing At The Irish National Stud Irish EBF Race.

A first two-year-old runner of the season for O'Brien, the 9/2 shot travelled strongly under Joey Sheridan and picked up well when a gap opened up between his rivals to score by a length and a quarter from Carry The Flag.

“It’s always nice when your first two-year-old runner runs well. He had been showing plenty of natural speed,” said O’Brien.

“He was green enough and off the bridle but I thought he was very impressive to the line.

“I don’t think he’d be going further than five (furlongs) at the moment and I think he’s a horse that’s made for the Norfolk (at Royal Ascot) – it’s all speed.

“I think he’ll have a run before now and then in something like the First Flier here (May 4th).”