The Great War booked his ticket for Royal Ascot and in the process provided Aidan O’Brien with his first juvenile winner of the season when justifying prohibitive odds with ease in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Tipperary.

Joseph O’Brien oozed confidence on the million dollar son of War Front, who was supported on track from 2/5 to 30/100.

The half-brother to five winners struck the front at the furlong pole, and stretched clear with the minimum of fuss to beat the pace-setting Lupie by two and a half lengths. Sauanna Belle was just a head back in third. Cleveland Street looked a tricky ride on his debut at Dundalk and veered violently right here about two furlongs out with Pat Smullen eventually pulling him up and dismounting.

Aidan O’Brien said, “He’s a fine horse and I’m delighted with him. He’s a fast horse with lots of speed.

“He’ll have one more run in a winners’ race or maybe the Marble Hill Stakes before going to Royal Ascot for either the Coventry Stakes or the Norfolk Stakes.”

(TW & AM)