Celestial Horizon, orange and blue© Photo Healy Racing
Celestial Horizon absolutely routed the field in the Kilberry handicap with a devastating display.
A mile and six was the trip and Joseph O'Brien's charge raced third entering the home straight.
The Fastnet Rock gelding moved smoothly into the lead two furlongs from home and was ridden clear by Declan McDonogh at the furlong marker. He increased the advantage before being eased down to win by a very healthy four and a quarter lengths at 4/1.
Racey Lacey finished second, without laying a glove on the winner, at 6/1. She was a head in front of 2/1 favourite Calvados
Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: “He deserved to win it. He's a big horse that has been slow coming to hand.
“Mark Gallagher rode him last time, he dropped him in a fair bit and came home really well in the last furlong. He said then he'd stay further and to ride him handier, which he has done.
“Declan said he'll probably end up staying two miles. It was an ordinary race but I think he's a horse that will improve an awful lot.
“Joseph has schooled him and he jumps beautifully too, so he's going to make a nice dual-purpose horse.
“He wouldn't want the ground any quicker than that, he'll go with cut in the ground because he is a big horse.
“He's very genuine and the blinkers are basically to sharpen him up more than anything else. They'll probably be a day when you take them off.
“He was good and it was nice to get his head in front.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
