Cannonball rolled over his rivals by staying on stoutly in the mile and quarter maiden at the Curragh.

Colin Keane had the 10/11 favourite lobbing along in fourth as Sovereign Hill blazed a trail (after missing the break and charging into the lead with a furlong gone).

Cannonball began to make headway coming off the bend and chased new leader Calgath into the last two furlongs. He was ridden into the lead over a furlong from home and kept on nicely to the delight of favourite backers.

The winning margin was a length and a quarter from Air Supremacy (5/1) who was doing his best work in the latter stages, on debut.

Ger Lyons said of the Qatar Racing-owned colt: “He’ll go wherever there is soft ground and is a big, backward baby. He has a lot of potential but physically is demanding to say the least. He’s a work in progress but has an engine and should improve again.”

Calgath completed the placings in third at 10/1, a further three and three quarter lengths away.

There was a gamble on Sovereign Hill during the day from 33/1 to 6/1 before he was returned at 12/1. His effort petered out when he was caught in the final quarter of a mile.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee