Cristofor Colombo and Joseph O'Brien impress in Navan's opener© Photo Healy Racing
Despite taking an alarming walk in the betting market, Aidan O’Brien’s Cristoforo Colombo made an impressive debut in the six furlong two-year-old maiden at Navan.
He opened at 7/4 but drifted right out to an SP of 7/2 and lost favouritism to Tommy Stack’s Scream Blue Murder (4/1 to 11/4).
Backers of O’Brien’s charge had their nerves calmed when the colt broke smartly under the trainer’s son Joseph and was always travelling well behind pacesetter Is Feider Leis
He hit the front a furlong and a half out and kept up the gallop to win by a comfortable length and a half.
Scream Blue Murder was the only one of the winner’s seven rivals who could go in pursuit at the business end of the race but she couldn’t get on terms.
Dermot Weld’s Secret Recipe kept on well in the final furlong to take third place at 9/2. There was money for Group 1-entered Rockabilly Riot from the Ger Lyons stable – 14/1 in the morning, opened 10/1 and went off 7/1. He finished fifth.
Winning jockey Joseph O’Brien said: “He jumped and travelled well and was quite green in front.
“He’s by Henrythenavigator who was a good moving horse and he would appreciate a bit faster ground.”
Tammy O’Brien, representing the owner Mrs John Magnier, added: “He is likely to be part of the Royal Ascot team.”
The winner picked up a £10,000 Racing Post bonus.
Michael Graham
