Third time lucky for Dick Whittington Dick Whittington got off the mark on the third time of asking as he took the opener at Navan this afternoon, the Lynn Lodge Stud European Breeders Fund Median Auction Race. Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by his son Joseph (carried a pound overweight), the son of Rip Van Winkle was sent off the 1/2 favourite. He caught the eye on his debut at Naas when finishing second to Capella Sansevero while he disappointed on his next start at the Curragh when sent off the 2/7 favourite. That run at the Curragh came on heavy ground and on good to firm today he was settled in third. He was pushed along to challenge over a furlong out and he soon went to the front on the outer, asserting inside the final furlong before going on to score in convincing fashion by four and a quarter lengths. Dandyleekie, the 15/8 second favourite, had no answer once headed by the winner and he had to settle for second under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons. Joseph O’Brien said afterwards: "I should have won on him the first time out but he was quite green with me and he nearly beat a nice horse of Ger Lyons’ that day. "The ground was too soft for him last time out. He wouldn’t be out of place next week (at Royal Ascot). "That lad has five furlong pace and he is by a sire that is going places." The winner holds a whole host of big race entries and he is still engaged in the Coventry Stakes and the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot next week. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
