Order back on track after Saval Beg win

Order Of St George won the feature Listed Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Saval Beg Stakes for the second year in-a-row, completing a quick double for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

Disappointingly beaten when odds-on on his last two starts, the son of Galileo was expected to get back to winning ways this evening as he went off the 4/11 market leader (was available at 8/13 last night).

Settled in fourth, the five-year-old entire was pushed along to challenge on the outer from over two furlongs out.

He got to the front with a furlong left to race, and kept on well from there to score by two and a quarter lengths. Twilight Payment finished second under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger at 4/1, while Motherland was another three and three parts of a length back in third.

O'Brien said afterwards: "You would have to be delighted with that, and he couldn't really have done any more. There is a bit more time this year (before Ascot).

"Ryan said he was fine on the ground. He handles soft ground but the ground here is beautiful. When he goes up in trip they will be going that bit easier.

"Obviously if everything is well we will look at Ascot next, and he could follow a similar path to last year."

The winning trainer then added: "Yucatan won't be going to the Derby. We are going to leave him until the autumn, and we think he is going to be a lovely horse next year. We are just going to ease back off him for the moment."

That'll do! Order Of St George limbers up for @Ascot with a smooth success in the Saval Beg Stakes @LeopardstownRC: pic.twitter.com/L1VUWt47Vf

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 26, 2017

Boylesports quote Order Of St George at 6/4 (from 7/4) to retain the Ascot Gold Cup, while Paddy Power offer 5/4 (from 6/4) and clipped Twilight Payment to 20/1 (from 25/1).

STEWARDS REPORT

D. O'Brien, rider of Motherland trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung right in the straight.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee