Saxo Jack proved much too strong for Al Destoor and Lake Nova in the opening mile and a quarter maiden at Leopardstown.

He raced just off pace-setting Black Ice before moving into the lead before halfway. From there he galloped powerfully round the home bend and powered his way to the line to win by three and a half lengths at 5/1.

“That’s great. The last time he bounced smartly and Gary pulled him back. I said to him if he hadn’t pulled him back he would have finished second,” successful trainer Ger Lyons said.

“He wants every yard for that trip. He has improved from the Curragh and learned from the race. He’s a lovely horse and has it all in front of him.

“I told Gary today that I didn’t want it turning into a farce of a race. I told him from two furlongs to mind him as it’s dead ground and a bit false.

“I thought that was a good performance. The horses are well and it’s a shame not to have runners in these four and five-runner races.”

Al Destoor, the 8/13 favourite, had every chance on the home straight as he ran second, but he could make no headway and had to settle for the runner-up berth.

Lake Nova completed missed the break but moved nicely into third on the homeward turn. Again though, no further gains were made and he just fended off More Of The Same in fourth by a neck.

Saxo Jack turned round the form with Al Destoor from the Curragh on June 26th. Al Destoor had finished second to The Vatican over a mile and a quarter and it was four lengths back to Saxo Jack in fifth.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson