Astronomer brings up double for O'Briens

Astronomer finished off strongly to give Aidan and Donnacha O'Brien a quick-fire double in Galway. Quinns Red Rose had poached the rail from stall one and held the lead in the home straight from Fridtjof Nansen in this extended mile maiden.

The pair were battling away entering the final furlong but Astronomer hit his straps from third to power home and pick them up in the closing stages.

The 5/2 shot got up by three parts of a length from Quinns Red Rose (7/1 from 10/1).

Fridtjof Nansen (16/1) took credit from a third place from stall 16. He was beaten a length and a quarter by the winner.

Donnacha O'Brien said: "It wasn't ideal (dropping in trip) but the race came up and he showed his stamina in the final furlong.

"I had a grand position once I got out and once I got a few belts into him, and I thought I'd always get there.

"He probably wants further but with the bit of soft ground he got away with the mile today." Freda May slipped up after halfway unseating Robbie Downey who walked in afterwards.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes