Argentero impresses in Naas opener

Newcomer Argentero overcame trouble in running as he ran out an impressive winner of the opener at Naas, the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden, scoring under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons and owner Sean Jones.

The son of Zoffany, who cost £50,000 at Doncaster last August, was available at 8/1 last night, opening on-course at 6/1 before going off a 5/1 chance.

Settled towards rear he was boxed in from the two furlong pole but once he got room inside the final furlong he kept on strongly, getting to the front under 100 yards out before going on to score by three and a quarter lengths. Touch Of Frost (14/1) ran a fine race to finish second under Gary Carroll for Johnny Levins while Escondida (13/2 to 11/2 on-course) was a further length back in third under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger. Stone Mountain drifted from 9/4 to 7/2 (joint-favourite) on-course and he finished a disappointing sixth.

The other joint-favourite was the well-backed Chasing Tomorrow (7/1 this morning and from 9/2 on-course) and he also disappointed, finishing last under Emmet McNamara for Michael O'Callaghan.

Ger Lyons said afterwards: "The word I'd use to describe this horse is professional from the first day he came in. Everything we asked him he did it.

"I told Colin to take his time and teach him his job. He handled that ground but would want better ground.

"Obviously at this time of the year you'd be thinking about Royal Ascot, and hopefully he'€™s one of those.

"Blood Moon (won at Dundalk) will go to the Curragh on Monday, and I'€™d like to go for a winners'™ race next as well with this fella. He'll learn plenty from that with all the hustle and bustle he got into between horses."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee