Aidan O'Brien's The Gurkha appears to have Classic aspirations following his impressive win in the Kilberry (C & G) Maiden at Navan today, providing top jockey Ryan Moore with a win on his first visit to the Co Meath venue.

The Gurkha, a son of Galileo, was the latest in a day-long list of front-running winners at the track and while joined for the lead in the early stages, stretched clear of his rivals in the home straight before recording a nine lengths win over Saafarr

Afterwards O'Brien stated “we thought he was very nice going to Leopardstown, and something happened going down the back; I think another rider lost an iron but Seamie (Heffernan) came back in and said he was a smart horse.

"He had a good draw, and you would have to be very happy with him. He could be a French Guineas horse. We will have to see.

"It's Ryan's first time here and he was very complimentary about the track."

Champion Trainer O'Brien was officially recording a treble, but in truth wasn't responsible for his initial 'winner' Hyzenthlay which is in the care of his soon-to-be-licensed son Joseph O'Brien.

The Gurkha's (named after the collective term for units of the British Army that are composed of Nepalese soldiers) win also continued the remarkably successful run of front-running rides, with 'all-the-way' tactics winning six of the opening seven races.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee