Rock Of Cashel gets his head in front for Navan victory

Rock Of Cashel relished the drop in grade to get back to winning ways in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Navan.

Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old had been highly tried since winning a Galway maiden last season, running in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst last autumn.

This term he has been campaigned in Group and Listed company before trying his hand in a handicap to no avail at Royal Ascot.

Against just three runners in this conditions race, however, he took command early in the straight under Wayne Lordan to down Johnny Murtagh’s 1-4 favourite Nautical Force by two lengths at 3-1.

O’Brien’s stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “The way the race worked out, it was a lovely race for him.

“In fairness to him, he has been dropped in the deep end from word go this year. He ran with credit behind Henri Matisse and Delacroix and was beaten five to six lengths behind proper Group One horses.

“Obviously, Johnny’s horse brought a high level of form here. Wayne gave him a lovely ride and the race worked out for him beautifully.

“He’s a horse we thought of as a stakes horse after Galway last year as a two-year-old, so hopefully this will do his confidence good and we will bring him back up to a stakes race over a mile and a-quarter and see how he goes.”

Murtagh had already been on the mark with newcomer Zuheila (5-2) in the Ardboyne Hotel Maiden.

Ben Coen nursed the Aga Khan Studs-owned three-year-old into the closing stages before getting down to business to beat Ger Lyons’ Washington Street by half a length.

Coen said: “She’s a nice, big filly and bred to have a bit of speed. She has been doing things nice at home.

“You can see why she hasn’t got to the track until now, she’s a big girl but she did that nicely. She had a good look when she hit the front, but hopefully she can stay improving.

“She was (doing all her best work late) – she was green running down the hill and, when I hit the rising ground, she came good.”