War gets back to winning ways

The Great War got back to winning ways as he ran out a comfortable winner of the Listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Blenheim Stakes, providing Aidan & Joseph O’Brien with a quick double.

The son of War Front burst on the scene with two impressive wins at Tipperary and over the course before disappointing when sent off the odds-on favourite on his next start in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He went down by just a length to Ainippe in the Listed Curragh Stakes last month but he again disappointed last time out at Doncaster.

Sent off the well-backed 10/11 favourite this afternoon (opened at evens on-course) he tracked the leader in the early stages before cruising into the lead over a furlong out.

He soon came under pressure and stretched clear inside the final furlong, going on to score by three and a half lengths. Tamadhor (6/4) was boxed in by the winner and had to be switched wide to come with her challenge.

Once she did The Great War had gone on and the Kevin Prendergast trained filly had to settle for second under Chris Hayes.

Aidan O’Brien said afterwards: "He's a fast horse who likes fast ground, and the key is a strong early tempo. There is a chance he could be supplemented for the Abbaye. We'll see how he comes out of this, and it looks like the ground will be good."

Boylesports introduced the winner at 20/1 for Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp next weekend.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee