Fascinating Rock (Pat Smullen) leaves All Set To Go, Carlo Bugatti and company in his wake at Navan© Photo Healy Racing
< Fascinating Rock advertised his claims for a Classic run with a superb performance to take the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Navan.
Dermot Weld's colt, impressive winner of a Leopardstown maiden at the end of last month, was added to the field for the Epsom Derby this week and looks to be heading in that direction after beating the favourite Answered by two and a half lengths.
The 5-2 shot was settled towards the rear but travelled smoothly into the race in the hands of Pat Smullen, and was pushed clear from the furlong pole to win with complete authority.
Weld and Smullen were completing a double after Stormfly (11-4), fourth on her debut only last weekend, made her experience tell in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, getting away quickly and always looking in control as she scored by a length and three-quarters.
Aidan O'Brien and his son Joseph also landed a double, with Palace (4-6 favourite) impressing in the closing maiden and Dazzling (5-1) giving notice that she could be in for a productive season with an all-the-way success in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.
O'Brien jnr always looked happy on the sister to Irish 2000 Guineas winner Roderic O'Connor, and he found a willing partner when he asked her to quicken in the straight as she comfortably held Cristal Fashion by a length and three-quarters.< Battleroftheboyne collared Chillie Billie deep inside the final furlong in the Navan Welcomes Owners Today Handicap, but the favourite could not repel the renewed challenge from John Larkin's 12-1 shot, who got back up by a nose under Robbie Downey.
There was another thrilling finish in the Come To The Family Day May 18th Handicap, Niall McCullagh just getting Johnny Murtagh's 7-2 chance Urban Moon home by a short head as favourite John Constable charged late.
The Seamus Fahey-trained Hazariban was punted down to 13-8 favourite for the Follow Navan Racecourse On Twitter Handicap and was driven through a gap close home by Shane Foley to score by a head in a blanket fi
