Heavily-backed Air Force One (morning 5/1, returned 13/8f) made a winning start to his career in Ireland today, landing the NavanRacecourse.ie Maiden on his first run for trainer Paddy Twomey.

Sired by the same stallion - Starspangledbanner, as the half-hour-earlier opening race winner Unexpected Issues Air Force One today improved on two juvenile UK unplaced efforts when breaking quickly to make all under Bill Lee, holding runner-up Ojw Legacy by a head.

Regarding the Bond Thoroughbred Limited-owned colt — which had cost 600,000gns as a yearling, Twomey said “he joined us last year and he's gotten stronger since he came. He's been showing a bit of pace and it looked like a nice place to start.

“We had planned on starting him in this race when it was originally due to be run in Tipperary but weather dictated that we came here. We were waiting for this to be changed to somewhere else.

“I think he's a five-furlong sprinter. He was tough there and we'll see what the handicapper does. Hopefully we'll have a bit of fun with him for the summer.”

Quotes from Gary Carson