The John Oxx trained Royal Visit readily justified 2/1 favouritism to win the goracingatnaasracecourse.com Maiden at Naas today, providing jockey Johnny Murtagh with his eighth winner of the new season.

The daughter of Kings Best moved to the front a furlong out before staying on well to defeat Srucahan by a length and three parts.

Afterwards Oxx said “Royal Visit ran well at The Curragh, made progress and won nicely enough today. She may go up to seven furlongs and will go for a handicap now either over six or seven furlongs. She is out of a mare who was best at six furlongs.”

Regarding his 2,000 Guineas hope Born To Sea, Oxx said “he is on course for the Guineas and it is a case of so far so good but he is fit and well.”

Jockey Chris Hayes received a two day suspension in the race, for careless riding on runner-up Srucahan, which hampered the eventual third placed Atacx in the closing stages.