River Tiber goes on from Tourist© Photo Healy Racing
River Tiber made it two from two in the opening Coolmore Stud Calyx Race over the minimum trip at Naas as he ultimately won going away.
Those holding dockets on the 2/9 favourite were probably clutching them a bit tighter when he came off the bridle at the two pole in his pursuit of front-running Tourist
The Wootton Bassett colt was then ridden over a furlong out to try and reel in Tourist and it was in the final 150 yards that he got to grips with the leader.
From there, the result wasn't in doubt as he ran on well in the closing stages to beat the 11/2 runner-up by a growing two and a-half lengths.
River Tiber's stablemate Democracy who won on debut at the Curragh was scratched from the race due to the quick ground.
Aidan O'Brien said: “I was very happy and very happy that we ran him. He hadn't been asked to do anything off the bridle at home, then he went to Navan and won very easily in soft ground so he probably doesn't know a lot.
“It was good strong pace today on good ground and before Ascot it's very important that they do that.
“Ryan had to catch a hold of him and make him get down and stretch, he would have learned an awful lot and he was very happy with him. We were delighted.
“I thought that he mightn't even come off the bridle as he shows loads at home. Ger's horse (Tourist) is obviously a good horse, he took him off the bridle. Ger's was second to one of ours here the last day and we liked him as well.
“He's a horse to look forward to. We thought he would be a Coventry horse.
“We have three Wootton Bassetts, it's the first time we've had them, and two of the colts are very good. It's unusual that two colts were good out of the three.
“He's always shown loads but very much always on the bridle doing his work but before you go to Ascot you have to take them off it and teach them. Hopefully that's the job done for him now.”
When asked about the quick ground for the winner he added: “Ryan said he had no problem with it.
“Everyone said that the Wootton Basssetts handle soft ground very well, so I wasn't sure about it but Ryan was very adamant that it was no problem.
“It's good ground there and you won't get much quicker at Ascot.”
Paddy Power kept River Tiber unchanged at 11/4 for the Coventry at Royal Ascot.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
