Aesop’s Fables added to Aidan O’Brien’s great record in the Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes when overcoming an absence of four months to take the Group 2 feature at the Curragh.

The son of No Nay Never, sidelined since making a successful debut at Navan in April, was providing the master of Ballydoyle with his 15th victory in the seven-furlong test and an eighth in the past decade.

Stablemate Hans Andersen looked a more likely winner when asserting over a furlong out but was reeled in by Ryan Moore’s mount in the final 100 yards.

The pair were separated by two-and-a-quarter-lengths at the line with the always prominent 5/4 favourite Proud And Regal a neck further back in third.

O’Brien said, “He had a little setback after winning at Navan and was a long time off. He’s a big, strong powerful horse and is built like a sprinter.

“He travelled well and I was a bit worried going up to seven. We’ll see how he comes out of this before deciding where we go next but you would have to be thinking Group 1 now.

“I would say he will progress a lot from this to his next run.” Aesop's Fables was cut into 14/1 (from 33/1) for next year's 2000 Guineas with Paddy Power and Betfair.