Tumbleweed Ridge won the Ballycorus Stakes for the third successive year when making all the running in the Group Three event at Leopardstown tonight.
The seven-year-old delighted his trainer Brian Meehan and regular jockey Michael Tebbutt with an easy victory over Bashkir.
'He is a smashing horse and loves Leopardstown,' reported Tebbutt to trainer Meehan who now plans a campaign in France for his durable campaigner.
'He is an old star and now the intention is to try and repeat last year's success later this month at Longchamp in the Prix de la Porte Maillot,' said Meehan.
'He is holding his form well and I think he deserves to step up in grade now even at seven years of age. The main target now is the Prix de la Foret back at Longchamp in October though he might not get the good ground then which he loves.'
Tebbutt settled the horse in front and gradually upped the tempo on the home bend before kicking clear under two furlongs out on the 5-4 favourite.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Mick Kinane, responsible for the runner-up, had better luck an hour earlier in the EBF Maiden as Beckett landed the odds on his debut.
The Fairy King juvenile colt may now go for the Railway Stakes at the Curragh's Budweiser Irish Derby meeting on July 2. - PA
Safer Gambling UK has launched its annual awareness week to promote responsible gambling.
