Celtic Chieftain and Wayne Lordan. © Photo Healy Racing
The well bred Celtic Chieftain became the latest Aidan O'Brien trained newcomer to make a winning debut when staying on nicely to land the opening Lynn Lodge Stud Irish EBF Maiden at Navan.
Sent off 8/1, the Wayne Lordan ridden son of No Nay Never, was apparently his stables second string, with Ryan Moore on the well fancied Alfred Tennyson
Prominent throughout just on the heels of the early leaders, Lordan tracked Colin Keane on favourite Red Evolution as Flash The Cash took them along.
As Keane moved up to lead over a furlong out, Lordan covered the move on Celtic Chieftain, quickening up to take over well inside the final furlong.
Despite showing understandable signs of greenness, Celtic Chieftain stayed on well to win by a neck.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He's a smart colt, he's a typical No Nay Never with loads of natural speed.
“Wayne was very happy with him. He had been coming along nicely in the last few weeks at home, at this time of year you just have to get them out and see exactly where they fit in.
“Wayne thought he was still very green but once he grabbed a hold of him he really stretched to the line and there is plenty of improvement in him. He has a good change of gear.
“We'll see over the next week how he pulls up and comes through it but he could be in the Ascot mix as well, for something like the Windsor Castle.
“He's not short of boot and he'll come on plenty mentally.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
