Given the strong word emanating from Ballydoyle about Due Diligence his price held up pretty well at 6/4 in the face of concerns about the ground in advance of the Woodlands 100 Club Handicap. Joseph O'Brien's mount brushed aside that worry with an all-the-way success in the third at Naas.

The American-bred put the six furlong event to bed from over a furlong out and he eventually crossed the line a length and a half in front from Wind Inher Sleeves

Aidan O'Brien explained: "We were worried about the ground and he was lucky to get away with it.

"He wouldn't have been liking it but we felt he needed the run for experience before we step him up in grade.

"I would say he's a fast ground horse over five or six furlongs. He got six well there but seven might be too far for him.

"He has the Greenlands and all those races. Darwin is a possible for that as well but he could turn up in it.

"I thought we might keep Guerre to five furlongs. Darwin might go six as he's coming back from seven and a mile." (GC & EM)