Al Mudhaffar was beaten at odds-on when making his debut at Dundalk last month but made no mistake on his second start in the Ross Clair Maiden.

The Wootton Bassett colt, trained by Joseph O’Brien for Al Shaqab and Al Mamoura, was always prominent and got over to the favoured stand side in the straight.

The 1/3 favourite, available at 11/8 overnight before chief market rival Sir Sagacious (off feed) was taken out, asserted inside the final furlong under Dylan Browne McMonagle to score by two lengths. Natural Ruler made a promising start on this surface in second with Hoover Dam a further three lengths back in third.

Browne McMonagle said, "Although I wasn't in front, I was kind of in control of the field. We went steady and got building off the bend, he has quickened up good and improved plenty - sharpened up well.

"I think these Wootton Bassett's only get better in time.

"Definitely not (no fear of 1m2f) - he's not the fastest horse in the world, but he has still got gears for a mile and the more he sharpens up he'll prove even better at a mile. The way he has got to the line, he should have no trouble going up in trip. He has got a good attitude.

"He's a little bit lazy, so up in grade with more runners will definitely help."

Quotes by Michael Graham