Aidan O’Brien’s Crusade stepped up on his debut mid-division finish at York to comfortably beat 15 rivals in the opening six furlong two-year-old maiden at the Curragh.

The American-bred colt who holds a host of Group race entries came home eighth of 17 at York but showed the benefit of that experience today.

He was sent off the 5/2 favourite and was always prominent throughout before kicking clear under Colm O’Donoghue a furlong out to score by two lengths. Pearl In The Sand (3/1) edged out Gush at 13/2 by a neck for the runner-up spot.

“I’m delighted with him. He came on nicely for his first run,” Aidan O’Brien said of his charge.

“We sent him to York first as I thought he was a nice horse.

“He was a bit green but came on nicely for it. We’ll look at the Blenheim Stakes or something like that. We’ll see how he is.

“This came up a little bit quick after York but it was a nice race for him.”

Gamble of the race was Paul Deegan’s unraced Tamam Namoose (entered in the Group 1 National Stakes) who was heavily supported from 20/1 to 7/1 but the son of Exceed And Excel never landed a blow in coming home seventh.

Dermot Weld’s Swerve (7/1) showed up in the front rank for a long way before fading to finish fourth.

Michael Graham