Cairo (left) © Photo Healy Racing
The 4/7 favourite Cairo duly obliged, but wasn't exactly impressive, in the Manguard Plus Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden.
The Quality Road colt, a fast-finishing second on his debut here three weeks ago, was always prominent under Wayne Lordan and led two furlongs. He soon went a couple of lengths clear, but Ballydoyle stable companion Gulf Of Mexico and fellow debutant Voice Of Reason gave chase in the final furlong and the market leader was all out to hold that pair by a neck and a head.
Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “It was a big jump up from six to a mile and he just got a little bit lonely the last half-furlong but Wayne was very happy with him.
“He’s a horse that won’t mind going back to seven — he’s not short of class.
“The second is a fine big horse and ran a lovely race. It was his first time out and he’ll improve from that experience. We are just trying to get them out and get them sorted.”
Paddy Power make the winner a 20/1 chance (from 33s) for the Dewhurst and 50/1 (from 66/1) for the Derby.
Quotes from Alan Magee
