ALFRED NOBEL has a lot of illustrious hoof-prints to follow in after he delivered Aidan O’Brien a remarkable 11th success in yesterday’s Group Two Netjets Railway Stakes.

O’Brien’s run of success – which began in 1997 with King Of Kings and takes in nine of the last 10 renewals – includes some of the most famous names in modern Ballydoyle history such as George Washington and Rock Of Gibraltar.

There is also more than a passing profile resemblance between Alfred Nobel and last year’s winner, Mastercraftsman, who graduated to Classic glory this year, and there was enough in yesterday’s performance for Alfred Nobel to earn 14 to 1 quotes for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.

Like Mastercraftsman, Alfred Nobel is a son of Danehill Dancer, and he, too, now looks like being targeted at a Group One prize next, back at the Curragh for the Phoenix Stakes.

“You’d like to think he would be able to come here for the Phoenix,” O’Brien said after his colt’s decisive defeat of In Some Respect. “He is progressing well with each race and quickened nicely there. He was very green when he got to the front.”

Statistical phenomena were not the sole preserve of O’Brien yesterday as the veteran sprinter Benbaun wound back the clock to record a seventh victory at the Curragh in the Group Three Sapphire Stakes.

The eight-year-old again teamed up with Pat Smullen to beat Snaefell and record a first win for Yorkshire-based trainer Kevin Ryan, who took over Benbaun when his former trainer, Mark Wallace, emigrated to Australia last year.

“It’s a pity Mark is half-way round the world because he’s a great friend of mine and did such a great job with this horse,” said Tipperary-born Ryan. “I would love to run him in the Nunthorpe, and long term the aim is to try and win the Abbaye again.”

He added: “I do believe when they get a bit older and wiser they get fed up running on fast ground, so this little bit of dig was perfect. He ran a very fast time in his last race in France, and when they can run that fast there’s always a good race in them.”

Smullen also landed the Listed Celebration Stakes on the 5 to 4 favourite Famous Name, who was five lengths too good for Jumbajukiba.

“He was impressive and he looks to be coming back to the form that saw him finish second in the French Derby last year,” said Dermot Weld. “He is in the Arlington Million, and that’s a distinct possibility.”

The Jim Bolger-Kevin Manning team were out of luck with Gan Amhras in the Derby, but they did strike in the mile-and-a-half handicap with the well-bred Via Galilei.

“His dam is a full-sister to the dam of Teofilo,” Bolger said. “He’d been knocking on the door and seems to have grown up a lot.”

Mountain Coral continued his winning streak in the Scurry Handicap under jockey Niall McCullagh, while the Punchestown festival winner Truckers Delight successfully returned to the level by landing the concluding two-mile handicap.