Year Of The Tiger impresses in Naas opener

Year Of The Tiger opened his account with the minimum of fuss at the third attempt when readily landing the odds in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Naas.

The 4/9 favourite, trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partners, cruised into contention in the straight leading just over a furlong out and quickly settled the issue.

He stretched clear under Donnacha O’Brien to score by four and a quarter lengths from stablemate Innisfree who made a pleasing debut.

Innisfree was held up in rear before switched out at the two-furlong pole, and came home nicely inside the final furlong to be a clear second best. Free Solo trained by Jessica Harrington for the Niarchos Family, also showed promise on his first outing finishing a further three lengths adrift in third.

Donnacha O’Brien said, “He did it easy. He’d a few decent runs and ran well in Ascot. He was very uncomplicated today, travelled smoothly and feels like he has a touch of class.

“He was still green when he hit the front. He pricked his ears and rolled around a little bit towards the fence but he has plenty of ability.”