Classic winner Colin Keane was on the mark in the Platinum Bloodstock & Eyrefield Handicap at the Curragh today as Strong Johnson easily justified 7/2 favouritism for trainer Kieran Cotter.

The four year old son of Le Cadre Noir had a stand side draw in 15 and jockey Keane elected to race away from the remaining runners, as Strong Johnson eventually scored comfortably by a length and three parts.

Trainer Cotter later reported his opening-day-of-the-season winner Woodford General was recently sold to Hong Kong and following this latest win reported “this horse is after improving a lot and we actually gave him an entry for the Rockingham last week so we hope he'll get in off bottom weight in that.

“He's a fine horse and he's progressed from three.

“We'd a winner here last year at the Guineas meeting so it's great to get another one and things are going well.

“For us we have a decent yard of horses with 18 in. We're planning to build a new barn and we're getting there.

“We have a few nice horses to run and we're looking forward to this fella.

“That was his first time on fast ground but we knew his full-sister handled it.

“Colin gave him a nice, calm, easy ride.”

Quotes from Gary Carson