Review CURRAGH 17TH SEP

Teofilo justified the opinion of his trainer Jim Bolger that 'he's the best I've had' with an impressive victory in the Laing O'Rourke National Stakes.

The Group 1 juvenile event was billed as a showdown beforehand between the son of Galileo and Phoenix Stakes winner Holy Roman Emperor (4/9 favourite), and so it proved.

Slaney Time played a solid role as pacemaker until headed by stablemate Teofilo two furlongs out, and Kevin Manning went for home at this point kicking his mount a few lengths clear.

Holy Roman Emperor was unable to make much impression when asked to narrow the gap, and the pair were a length and a quarter apart at the line with a further 4 1/2L back to Eyshal in third.

'We wanted to make sure there was a good even pace and both my jockeys did a good job. He has not been too stressed up to now and the Dewhurst and Prix Legardere on Arc day are his two options if he runs again this year.'

'The Guineas is his priority but, if he wants to be the next triple crown horse, I won't stand in his way!' said Bolger.

William Hills' offer of 7/1 for the 2,000 Guineas didn't last too long after laying him to lose e150,000, while Powers were a top priced 14/1 for the Derby.

Aidan O'Brien was fulsome in his praise for the winner afterwards saying, 'I was very impressed and he looks very good. Our horse is a good, solid type and has plenty of options.'

O'Brien and Keiren Fallon recorded a Listed race double elsewhere on the card with the well-backed favourites Brave Tin Soldier and Ivan Denisovich.

Brave Tin Soldier (9/4-15/8fav) quickened up nicely inside the final furlong of the Blenheim Stakes to beat Invincible Force by two and a half lengths.

'He's learning with every race and we'll have a look at the Middle Park Stakes. Ad Valorem won this race a few years ago before going there,' said O'Brien.

Fallon was hard at work on Ivan Denisovich early in the straight of the Solonaway Stakes but the Danehill colt kept battling and got up inside the final 50 yards to beat Latino Magic by a neck in a bunch finish.

'Keiren gave him some ride. He's in all the races and it's quite possible that he'll go back to America,' said O'Brien of the runner-up in a Grade 1 at Arlington last month.

The Ballydoyle trainer also reported Yeats 'a bit stiff' after his exertions in the St Leger and added 'we will see how he is in the next few days before deciding on Melbourne.'

John Oxx and Michael Kinane continued on from a memorable day here on Saturday when Essexford showed significant improvement from her debut to take the 7f juvenile maiden.

The good looking daughter of Spinning World led over a furlong out and held on by a diminishing short-head from the fast finishing newcomer Mamlook.

'She's very lazy at home and was hard to get ready for her first run where she also suffered a bit of interference. I doubt if she'd like it really soft and we'll probably give her another run this year,' said Oxx.

Lucky Kyllachy showed plenty of speed, along with New Trend, in the six furlongs nursery and stayed on well for Wayne Lordan to beat that rival by two lengths.

'He likes a little bit of juice in the ground and will go for another nursery,' said trainer David Wachman.

Grecian Dancer, trained by Charles O'Brien for his father Vincent, recording a hard-earned neck verdict in the hands of Fran Berry over Miss Una in the seven furlongs handicap.

Man On The Nile completed a hat-trick in the concluding 2m handicap, benefiting from a strong ride by Declan McDonogh to beat Master Ofthe Chase by 1 3/4L.

Alan Magee