Forgotten Rules looks well set for Gold Cup after Navan win

Forgotten Rules warmed up for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot when preserving his 100 per cent record in the Coolmore Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on Sunday.

The ante-post favourite for the Ascot highlight enhanced his claims for next month’s two-and-a-half mile Group One after passing a stern test from Jim Bolger’s Answered on his first start for 211 days.

These two fought out a stirring finish to the Group Three contest over a mile and three-quarters after Sir Ector and Panama Hat had set the pace.

Forgotten Rules (8-11 favourite), trained by Dermot Weld, showed all the right qualities for a top stayer as he held his race-fit rival by a length and a quarter in the hands of Pat Smullen.

The two principals pulled well clear of Sir Ector in third while the sole British raider, the David Lanigan-trained Biographer, only beat one home after never getting into contention.

Forgotten Rules was trimmed into 2-1 favourite from 3-1 for the Gold Cup by Paddy Power.

Weld said: “I was very pleased with the performance and thought it was an excellent renewal of the race.

“Two very brave and high class stayers fought it out. Not taking anything away from the second he’s a very good horse.

“He had the benefit of a run and was getting 5lbs so I thought it was an excellent performance by Forgotten Rules on his first run back.

“I’m pleased with the way he handled the drying ground and it augurs well for his future.

“The obvious logical next step is the Ascot Gold Cup and the only caveat I would have is that he would never want the ground too firm.

“Pat was very pleased with the way he strode out and he handled it well. It’s beautiful ground out there and any horse would go on it. Credit to Navan the track is in super shape.”

Joe Eile (10-1) made the most of his rail draw to come out on top in the navanracecourse.ie Handicap.

Making light of a 295-day absence, the Ger Lyons-trained seven-year-old took a definite advantage a furlong out and was kept up to his work by Colin Keane to score by half a length from In Salutem.

“That’s nice. He was over in England for a year and dropped a bit in the ratings,” said Lyons.

“He didn’t win over there and they tend to drop them quicker than they do over here. That was the winning of the race.

“He had been working well at home but I thought he might come on for it and that maybe the five here might be a bit sharp for him.

“Hopefully he’ll be a good sprinter this year for the lads who own him from Clane.”

Auld Enemy (13-2) put up a promising display when making all the running to make a winning debut in the Requinto EBF Maiden.

David Wachman's son of Fastnet Rock broke away nicely under Wayne Lordan to grab the far rail and dictate affairs.

Well in command, he went to score by a length and a half from Black Beach with the always prominent Stone Mountain third.

“He’s a grand colt. He had a good draw and was reasonably professional,” said Wachman.

“He wants further and we’ll get him home and make a plan for him then.”

Toscanini got off the mark in his first race for 245 days when holding the late challenge of Ainippe in the Brews Hill Race.

Absent since finishing second to Gleneagles in the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh in September, Toscanini (9-10 favourite) put himself in line for Royal Ascot with a winning reappearance.

Smartly away in the hands of Shane Foley, the Michael Halford-trained colt travelled well and easily took over from the pace-setting Beach Belle just over a furlong out.

However, Ainippe put in a strong late bid and was closing with every stride though Foley was not too hard on the winner, who prevailed by a head.

Halford said: “I’m happy with that and it’s good to get him started.

“He travelled well but wasn’t doing a whole lot in front. He’ll go to Naas now and then Ascot.

“He was only ready to start and I’m very happy. Shane said he had a good blow at the furlong pole and was just doing enough from there.

“The faster they go the better for him and the faster the ground the better.”

Halford will see how he performs in the Lacken Stakes on June 1st before deciding whether to keep him at sprint trips or step up to seven furlongs for the Jersey Stakes.

“I’ll wait and see what happens in Naas,” he said. “He’s in the Jersey. He hasn’t got any slower over the winter. We’ll keep our options open.”

Meanwhile, raiders On His Own and Sire Collonges were out of the money as Milord Thomas took the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil.

Ridden by veteran Jacques Ricou, the Domique Bressou-trained Milord Thomas (11-4 favourite) had to withstand the persistent challenge of his old adversary Shannon Rock, who was finishing second in the race for the fourth year running.

The Willie Mullins-trained On His Own was prominent early on but was beaten before the turn for home while Paul Nicholls’s Sire Collonges had a good position at halfway but was not in the hunt after that and weakened in the final mile.