Kyprios enjoyed a Saturday afternoon stroll at Navan as he made a winning return in the SBK Vintage Crop Stakes on Saturday.

Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer endured an truncated campaign last season, with an injury restricting him to just two outings.

He showed he retained all his ability when second in the Irish St Leger and at Ascot on Champions Day but this spring has been much smoother for him.

O’Brien’s plan was to come to this race, head for the Saval Beg and then go for the Gold Cup at Ascot, which was one of four successive Group Ones Kyprios won two years ago.

The first leg was carried out with the minimum of fuss under Ryan Moore, who moved up to join stablemate Queenstown a furlong out before forging clear to win by three and a quarter lengths as the 2-13 favourite.

“Delighted with him this year, great to get him back,” said O’Brien.

“Ryan gave him a lovely, uncomplicated ride. Wayne (Lordan on Queenstown) set a lovely, even pace and he kept taking him.

“I couldn’t be happier really.

“When he gets there he doesn’t do much and that is the way he is, but he was travelling very easily all the way.

“Everything is good so far – the plan was to come here, go to Leopardstown (Saval Beg) and go to the Gold Cup. He is a lovely horse to have.”

Aidan O’Brien’s expensive purchase Camille Pissarro justified odds-on favouritism when making a winning debut at Navan.

The imposing colt by Wootton Bassett cost 1.25 million guineas as a yearling, partly because he is a half-brother to Clive Cox’s Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde.

Ryan Moore briefly looked in trouble two furlongs out but was just cajoling his mount along to keep him in contention as Billie Be Quick gave him something to aim at.

Camille Pissarro wore him down though and then repelled the late run of Fozzy Stack’s New Theory by a length and a half, in a race the same connections won 12 months ago with subsequent Royal Ascot winner River Tiber.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “A lovely start. He’s a horse that has shown a bit at home and it is great to get him out here.

“He has a very good attitude which is typical of the Wootton Bassett’s.

“He is very exciting, the penny was only starting to drop with him really in the last half-furlong which was probably the best part of the race for him.

“He is definitely one for (Royal) Ascot, he’s a classy sort. Whether we get one run into him between now and Ascot, I’m not sure. We could go to Ascot without a run.

“He’s one of the smart ones and exciting.”

When asked if he could go over six or seven furlongs at Ascot, he replied: “The last half-furlong he only really figured out what everything was about.

“Once he puts the front nine and back nine together, he is very exciting.

“He has got an unbelievable pedigree by Wootton Bassett and a fantastic attitude.”

Jessica Harrington’s Givemethebeatboys (13-8 favourite) also has Royal Ascot on his agenda after getting up to deny Betsen in the final strides of the Space Traveller Irish EBF Committed Stakes.

The colt was last seen finishing fourth in the Middle Park Stakes and subsequently travelled to America for the Breeders’ Cup, but was scratched by the local vets on raceday.

“He toughed it out well,” said Harrington.

“He did everything wrong in a way because he was free early on, took a blow at the furlong pole and he (Shane Foley) had to wait for him, the other horse (Betsen) had had a run and he will be much better for that. That will sharpen him up a lot.

“He was good with the penalty on him. He got rolling again and was always going to get there.

“He’ll go to Naas now and then the plan is the Commonwealth Cup.”

Ezeliya ended Purple Lily’s unbeaten start to her career when running down Paddy Twomey’s filly in the closing stages of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan.

Winner of a Cork maiden on her second outing last season, the Dermot Weld-trained Ezeliya was a 9-1 shot in a strong Listed race.

Purple Lily appeared to have everything covered as Billy Lee unleased down on the outside of Everlasting and Caught You Looking, but Chris Hayes, who had been pushing away for some time on Ezeliya, was getting a real tune out of his filly.

She flew home to win by half a length and earn a quote of 16-1 from Coral for the Betfred Oaks at Epsom.

“I thought she would run a big race and she did,” said Weld.

“It was a very true-run Group race and they went a real good gallop for a mile and a quarter.

“Chris took his time on her. He planned to sit a little bit closer but the pace they were going he waited. I loved the way she attacked the hill and saw her race out well. Better ground will suit her better.”

Ezeliya is a daughter of Dubawi out of Eziyra, who was a multiple Group race winner for Weld and placed third behind Enable in the 2017 Irish Oaks.

He added: “It is a lovely family – a good, tough family and I think she will get a mile and a half.

“She is a Group One filly – lots to look forward to.”

When asked about the Epsom and Irish Oaks, he replied: “She is in both and we will review it and see.

“We will see how she progresses during the week and make a decision in two weeks.”