Holistic Approach makes winning debut

Holistic Approach made a winning debut in the opener at the Curragh, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Trained by Jim Bolger, and ridden by Kevin Manning, the son of New Approach was as big as 13/2 this morning, touching 7/2 on-course before going off a 4/1 chance.

Towards rear in the early stages, the bay colt soon improved to track the leaders. He was ridden in fourth with two furlongs to race, and only really got going inside the final furlong, getting up close home to score by half a length. Ice Canyon who is also owned by Godolphin, was the one he reeled in, with the 2/1 favourite having to settle for second under James Doyle for Mick Halford.

The Aidan O’Brien trained newcomer Spirit Of Valor (9/4) finished out his race well, and he was another length back in third under Donnacha O’Brien.

Jim Bolger said afterwards: "He will be a smart horse especially when he steps up a bit. He's a nice prospect.

"There won't be an awful lot for him now except maybe the Killavullan. We'll see how he comes out of this.

"He'll get a mile anyway. We won't mind if he doesn't get any further as long as he gets it quick enough."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson