< Canford Cliffs finally justified the hype with a performance that oozed class in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Richard Hannon's colt had been beaten three times since his memorable Coventry Stakes romp but emerged with his reputation buoyed when third in the Newmarket Guineas.

Sent off the 9-4 favourite to go two better, he cruised through the first half of the race under Richard Hughes and when given his head, quickened three lengths clear of Free Judgement and Viscount Nelson

Hannon's day got even better when Shamwari Lodge landed a hat-trick in the TRI Equestrian Stakes.

This time Hughes went to the front on the red-hot 8-15 market leader and he didn't have to get too serious to see off Indiana Gal by a cosy length and a half.

The British party had more reason to cheer when Markab (100-30 favourite) picked up the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes.

Pat Cosgrave dictated terms to suit himself on Henry Candy's raider and when Snaefell emerged from the pack, he had saved enough to kick again en route to a two-length verdict.

The gaps came just in time for Samuel Morse who made it two from two when claiming the T P Waters EBF Marble Hill Stakes by a neck.

Successful on heavy ground on his debut here, he handled these different conditions well, although those who took the 9-4 were made to sweat as Johnny Murtagh extricated him from a pocket at the furlong marker, but he quickened well to catch Purple Glow

There was a decent prize up for grabs in the Emirates Equestrian Federation Handicap and favourite-backers were rewarded when Bangalore Gold (11-2) swooped in the final furlong, while Barring Decree sprung a 25-1 surprise in the Axminster Curragh Carpets Handicap to give trainer Frank Dunne his first winner in nearly 5,000 days.