Henri Matisse shades a thrilling opener

Henri Matisse won a thrilling head-bobbing finish with Cadogan to make a winning debut in the juvenile colts and geldings maiden over six furlongs at the Curragh.

He made headway for Ryan Moore racing to the furlong pole and, in truth, an absolute wall of horses held chances across the track with 150 yards to go.

Cadogan and Henri Matisse, in the centre, went on with 100 yards left and were pursued by Red Evolution on the stands' side.

Cadogan still held a narrow advantage over Henri Matisse close home, but the latter dropped his head on the line when it mattered.

The 11/8 favourite scored by a short head from the 9/2 runner-up. Red Evolution kept at it in third at 5/1, just a neck down.

Aidan O'Brien said: "He's a lovely-bred horse, I think Joseph (O'Brien, Cadogan) liked his horse as well.

“He'll improve a lot. He was babyish at home, mentally. Ryan nursed him as much as he could and gave him a lovely ride.

“He'll be very happy if he wants to step up to seven too, he's a lovely horse I'd say.”

When asked if he could be a Coventry horse, he added: “He could, it depends on how much he's going to come on. Obviously, if he was going, he'd have to have another run as he was very babyish.

“Through the race he was very green, everything was happening slow. It was a lovely introduction.

“Ryan loved him, though, he said he was lovely but he was babyish and green. When he really wanted him, he said he stuck his head out.

“He has a fast pedigree, but what is unusual about Wootton Bassett is that he can get a fast horse as well as a middle-distance horse. They can do everything really, it will be interesting.”

Paddy Power cut Henri Matisse from 25/1 to 14/1 for the Coventry and this was quickly reduced to 10/1.

Henri Matisse was a French visual artist born in 1869 who passed away in 1954.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson