Facile win for odds-on Ballydoyle colt

Changingoftheguard (4/9 fav) was the one punters wanted to be with in the BetVictor Proud To Support Irish Racing Maiden and he made all for a facile success.

The 87-rated Galileo colt, touched off at Punchestown on his final juvenile start, had all his rivals in trouble early in the straight and galloped on strongly to account for Artistic Choice by six lengths.

The Wayne Lordan-partnered winner holds entries in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish equivalent.

Chris Armstrong, representing winning trainer Aidan O'Brien, said: "He could end up in one of those staying races at Ascot. Any of those staying races he will be targeted at.

"He ran in good maidens last year and he has progressed nicely over the winter."

Quotes from Michael Graham