A COLD and wet Navan is not the usual launchpad for possible classic glory but there was no mistaking the quality of Olympic Majesty's winning seasonal debut in the Erin's Isle Race yesterday.
The Charles O'Brien trained colt annihilated his six rivals, cruising past the pace forcing Sublime Beauty two furlongs out and sauntering 11 lengths clear. Olympic Majesty is in the Epsom Derby but afterwards O'Brien was leaning more towards the Irish Derby as a target for the colt who finished seventh to Revoque in Longchamp's Grand Criterium last October.
"He got murdered in that race and came home badly bruised. We came here today instead of the Derrinstown Derby Trial to give him a soft race after that bad experience," O'Brien said.
The trainer had been worried about the soft ground for the good actioned Olympic Majesty but that didn't stop punters steaming to back him and they are likely to have another opportunity to do so when the Law Society colt runs in the Listed Conrad International Silver Stakes on Irish 2,000 Guineas day.
The law theme continued halt an hour later when Back Bar, a falter at the seventh in the Aintree Grand National, put in a faultless round of jumping to win the Flower Hill Handicap Chase. Part owned by former Bar Council chairman Frank Clarke, Back Bar ran on well on the run in to hold Perspex Gale.
Arthur Moore and Fran Woods failed to make it a double when Owenduff failed to get to grips with the odds on favourite Native Darrig in the Navan Races Hurdle and Charlie Swan had to use the minimum amount of effort to run out a 12 length winner.
Jim Bolger sent out Sandomierz to carry his daughter Fiona's colours to their first success in the opening Dunsany Handicap. Currently working as a teacher in India, Fiona missed seeing her winner put three parts of a length between himself and the favourite Loughmogue.
Wyatt beat off the well supported Duiske Abbey to win the Bective Maiden Hurdle by three lengths but the stewards were in action with the fourth home, Jacky Flynn. They slapped a £500 fine on the gelding's trainer John Joe Walsh for using the racecourse as a training ground, banned jockey Joe Casey for 21 days for making insufficient effort and also banned Jacky Flynn from racing for 30 days.
The John Berry trained and ridden Magic Circle was a smooth winner of the bumper and Con Collins' newcomer Dixie Dynamo, surprised the favourite Marigot Bay in the five furlong maiden.
