John Constable and Joseph O'Brien © Photo Healy Racing
< Leading Light warmed up for the Ascot Gold Cup with an excellent return to action in the Coolmore Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.
Sent off the even-money favourite, despite being absent since struggling in the Arc in October, last year's Doncaster St Leger hero had some ground to make up on the front-running Royal Diamond with three furlongs to travel.
But Joseph O'Brien didn't panic and his mount steadily ate into the lead, taking it up at the furlong pole before storming three lengths clear.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien followed up when John Constable - a full brother to Leading Light - ended a frustrating run of defeats in the Excelebration Maiden as the 5-4 favourite, although the Ballydoyle team were denied a three-timer when Table Rock had to settle for second behind Maskoon (9-2) in the Pour Moi EBF Maiden.
Eddie Lynam may have been out of luck with Balmont Mast in Singapore, but he gained some compensation thanks to a double kickstarted by More Questions in the navanracecourse.ie Handicap.
The race lost some of its lustre with the withdrawals of well-fancied pair Masai and Great Minds, but that should take nothing away from the victory of the 4-1 favourite, who quickened smartly past several rivals in the final furlong to prevail by two and a quarter lengths.
Lynam's brace was completed by Odisseia (7-2) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap.< Dandyleekie (16-1) made a successful start to his career in the Requinto EBF Maiden.< Araner was odds-on to build on his promising introductory effort and led for much of the contest but Ger Lyons' colt hit top gear late on to pip the market leader on the line.
The money came for Sailors Swan prior to the Come Racing On June 14th Maiden and he justified 11-8 favouritism by three and a half lengths, while the application of blinkers had the desired effect on Above The Law (16-1) in the Navan Family Day Handicap.
