Friendless Warrior gets off the mark

Despite being virtually friendless with punters The Warrior got off the mark on his fifth career start as he took the Big Bad Bob Maiden under Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien.

Available at 5/4 last night he opened on-course at 9/4, touching 3/1, before going off the market leader at 11/4.

Drawn near the rail in stall twenty-two he was settled in mid-division and was pushed along two furlongs out.

He made progress through the field from over a furlong out and came through to lead in the final 150 yards, going on to score by two and a half lengths.

Newcomer Mulkeyya finished second under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld at 4/1 while Creggs Pipes (25/1) was a further length back in third under Declan McDonogh for Andy Slattery.

Aidan O'Brien commented in the aftermath: "He'd good runs last year and was rated (106) to do that. You are never sure first time how they are. I usually come here thinking they are fit and find out that they aren't.

"It will be interesting to see how the other horses get on today. We have brought 63 horses to work after racing, and all the main three-year-olds are here. They will go in three groups with two groups of 23 and another of 20. They will all probably do a mile."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee