Odds-on punters survive scare in opener

The Aidan O'Brien trained Monarch gave his odds-on followers plenty cause for concern before eventually justifying 8/11 favouritism, under Donnacha O'Brien, in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden at Gowran today.

The son of Galileo moved to the front early in the home straight but when asked to quicken, veered badly left and seemingly away from the whip, under two furlongs out.

Those standing outside the railing took evasive backwards steps as Monarch approached but once finding that running rail, the colt kept a straight line from there for what proved a comfortable two and a quarter lengths win, over Flying Fairies

Afterwards jockey O'Brien stated, "He tried to go for the gate. He has plenty of ability, and I'm glad we had the chifney (bit) on him."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee