Grand Ducal gave the ultra-powerful Ballydoyle operation a timely boost ahead of an important weekend when making a winning debut at Tipperary.
Aidan O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh will team up again when Henrythenavigator seeks to confirm Newmarket form with New Approach in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas later today.
And although the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden sits at the opposite end of the scale, there was much to like about the win of Grand Ducal as he fought off Chariya to land odds of 100-30.
Murtagh said of the two-year-old Danehill Dancer colt: "He won well and that will sharpen him up a lot. He got the seven furlongs well on very nice ground and responded when I asked him to."
Arizona John and Award Ceremony fought out a tight finish to the Knockanglass Stables Maiden, with the former eventually coming out on top by three-quarters of a length.
The 8-1 chance, trained by John Oxx and ridden by Mick Kinane, responded well to first-time blinkers and the front two pulled pleasingly clear of 5-2 favourite Liberty Bridge.
A dramatic Tipperary Summer Festival 19th & 20th July Hurdle went the way of 7-1 chance Keep It Cool.
But the outcome could well have been different had The Frog Prince not jumped to his right at the penultimate obstacle, bringing down South Wing and leaving even-money favourite Negus at a standstill.
Negus, who had moved ominously well throughout, was left with no chance thereafter and his rider Denis O'Regan did remarkably well to even stay in the saddle.
Keep It Cool and John Cullen kept galloping up front to hold Garryduff East by a length and three-quarters.
Winning trainer Martin Lynch said: "John said he jumped three out almost too well. He said he would have gone close anyway."
Ask Jenny (7-1) got up right on the line to deny Adriatic in the Free In Wearing Munster Jersey Handicap, a short head being the margin of victory for Keagan Latham's mount.
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