Naas Sunday review and replays

Coventry option for River Tiber

Stablemate and principal market rival Democracy was a non-runner in the opening Coolmore Stud Calyx Race leaving the way clear for River Tiber (2/9 favourite) to make it two from two.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien had won two of the three runnings of the five furlong contest with The Antarctic obliging 12 months ago and River Tiber could now head to Royal Ascot, as did last year's winner who went onto finish seventh in the Norfolk Stakes.

Partnered by Ryan Moore, River Tiber - an impressive 10 length winner on debut - jumped well from the outside stall but had to be ridden to assert which he did in fine style, responding to his rider's urgings to quicken clear and win cosily having momentarily looked in trouble (hit 2/1 in-running).

Tourist took second, finishing two and a half lengths adrift.

The winning trainer told Racing TV: "I think we did (learn more).

"Obviously delighted that we did (come here) just looking at him. He was very green through the middle of the race and Colin (Keane, jockey of Tourist) took them a very good, strong pace and obviously he won very easily on very soft ground the last day so it would have been a big difference coming from Navan going straight into Ascot, he could get into trouble because he might not have known enough.

"He would have learned a lot today. His feet would have had to have been much quicker today and that's what would happen at Ascot so that's why we came and we're delighted there was a strong pace that he had to follow.

"I think so (that River Tiber will be stepped up in trip) and that was Ryan's initial reaction when we asked him five or six and he said he preferred the Coventry. Usually what happens is we work them all together close to Ascot and then the lads decide what we want to do with them but that would be Ryan's initial opinion at the moment.

"He's smart. We ran a few horses that got beat early that we thought were nice and we gave them little breaks and they're on the way back but he is a smart horse, he was always showing loads, doing his work very easy and always a danger of horses working with others and doing it easy is that they don't learn a lot but that was what was important today, he will have learned a lot."

River Tiber was cut to 9/4 (from 3s) by Sky Bet for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook quoting 11/4.

Cheeky success for Ladies Church

The fitting of cheekpieces helped Ladies Church (4/1) return to her best in the Sole Power Sprint Stakes.

Settled in behind the front-running raider Tees Spirit, Ladies Church picked up impressively when Ben Coen popped the question and quickened clear to record a three length success.

Moss Tucker chased her home with Lady Tilbury third.

It was a fourth career success from 12 starts for Johnny Murtagh's filly who enjoyed the drop to Listed level after finishing in midfield in the Group One Al Quoz Stakes at Meydan when last seen.

Ladies Church was cut to a general 14/1 from 33s for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"She reminds me a bit of Sole Power," Murtagh said. "She's very responsive, she's always in-behind relaxed but when you do ask her she responds very quickly and she's got that great turn of foot.

"Ben says even at home when she gets to the front she pulls up in front so we put the cheekpieces on her today and the race set up lovely for her today, it was a good pace, she relaxed early and you could pick her out as the winner a long way out. She did quicken up well and Ben said when the second came to her he couldn't pull her up after the race.

"Delighted with that performance. We were hoping she could do that but it's always nice to see them come and do it in a race like that.

"She was second in a Group Two out there (Dubai) and I thought she had a real chance World Cup night of hitting the board but she never got going, she got a bump out of the stalls, she was a bit awkward in the run but when we came back we gave her a little break and this was always the plan, here and then onto Ascot.

"They always go very fast in the King's Stand. It's a stiff five and I think that is what she likes; the faster they go, the better it will be for her. She travels very strongly off a fast pace and you'd be hoping she could improve a little bit from today, it was her first run back from Dubai. She's a filly you can get ready, she puts her heart into her work, but we'd like to think that it's the start of a big year for her, we always thought she was a Group One filly."

Murtagh and Coen went on to complete doubles on the card when Blues Emperor (2/1 favourite) gained a hard-fought success under top-weight in the closing Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap.

Porta Fortuna shows sparkling turn of foot

All the money ahead of the Group Three Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes was for Ribchestina but the writing was on the wall for her supporters approaching the final furlong.

Ribchestina appeared to be travelling well but push soon came to shove with a furlong and a half to run as Porta Fortuna (8/1) swept to the front under Gavin Ryan.

It appeared as though the Curragh debut winner was going to win comfortably only for debutante Navassa Island to come home with a wet sail wide on the track and there was only a neck between the pair at the line.

Launch finished four and a half lengths adrift of the pair in third.

Winning trainer Donnacha O'Brien said: "We thought she was smart but nice to see her take the step up in class well. I did (think she'd go close). She works like a smart filly, we thought she was a smart filly after her maiden; she probably should have won a good bit further if things had gone better for her on the day.

"She's plenty of pace, I think she'd probably have no problem with five furlongs either but it's a stiff six here, especially when they go a gallop, so I wouldn't have any concerns about five or six.

"I'll have to speak to the owners and see what they want but I'd imagine Plan A would be Royal Ascot, I think she'd have no problem with either the Queen Mary or the Albany, but I'll speak to them and make a decision."

Cosmic winner for Halford and Collins

Cosmic Vega (14/1) provided a first winner for Michael Halford and Tracey Collins when edging out Sharlouk in the Owenstown Stud Stakes.

Cosmic Vega signed off last season with a heavy ground course victory for Halford over a mile but had no problem dropping back in trip on better ground. Always well placed in the seven furlong Listed contest having gained a prominent position from his wide draw, Ronan Whelan asked his mount to pick up passing the two furlong pole.

He hit the front approaching the final furlong but the lightly raced Sharlouk came out of the pack and gradually whittled away the advantage but couldn't get past his more experienced rival with a short-head separating the pair at the line.

There was over a length back to 5/2 favourite New Energy in third who, in turn, finished just a nose in front of Panic Alarm.

"Very, very happy," Halford said. "A great performance by both horse and jockey on the day so great to get started."

Explaining the new partnership, Halford continued: "I had a change of circumstances and was looking for a yard back at the Curragh so had a good look around and I spoke to Tracey Christmas week.

"I had a chat with Tracey, myself and Pat - her husband - had a think about it over Christmas and we said we'd give it a try and so far so good, we're getting on great. It's working well.

"We've had very few runners, only hand-picking a few, but now one gets out in front the others seem to come along behind so please God it's a start. It was a very close call whether I ran him or not, I walked the track after the first race and the horse's form is on softer ground or heavy ground even, but it's beautiful ground and he was in great form and I thought it was worth taking the chance. We took a chance today because we live 20 minutes away but ease in the ground and a left-handed track proves to be where he's at his best.

"Ronan is riding out of his skin this year; we're delighted to have him. We haven't been much help up to now but hopefully we can be from here on."

The Antarctic keeps Oceans at bay

Supporters of The Antarctic had their hearts in their mouths in the closing stages of the Group Three Goffs Lacken Stakes but the line came just in time for the 13/8 favourite.

The field split into two early on in the six furlong contest with Moore and The Antarctic grabbing the far side rail and the lead in the bigger group. The Antarctic drifted off the rail inside the final furlong as the alarm bells rang out and the field began to close.

Ocean Quest finished best of all and looked to be in front just after the line but The Antarctic was still a head to the good where it mattered.

Ocean Jewel was only half a length adrift in third with 50/1 shot Thunderbear, the winner of a Nottingham handicap last time, running a big race in fourth.

"Ryan was a little bit surprised today when he asked him to quicken at the two how much he quickened, he said he quickened very well and just got a little bit lonely the last half a furlong," O'Brien revealed.

"We're very happy with him, we thought he had progressed plenty and we thought that he would progress a bit more. His two options (at Royal Ascot) would be the Jersey or the Commonwealth.

"Little Big Bear will run next weekend I think at Haydock in the Sandy Lane which is back to six for him and then we'll see what will happen. He could be a horse for the Commonwealth and then the lads will chat to Ryan and see what they want to do.

"Little Big Bear was a non-event in the Guineas so it's kind of exciting to see what he will do back sprinting. We can't expect to see him at his best after running over a mile and going through what he did in the race so, hopefully, we'll be looking forward to a good run and a run that will leave us saying there's plenty of promise going forward but whatever he does the next time, he'll progress again after that we think."

Moore and O'Brien went on to complete a treble on the card when Unless (9/4) opened her account at the seventh time of asking in the Twydil/Clovelly Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

"She's a typical Justify," the trainer said.

"Give her a little bit of time, little bit of nice ground and she's coming hand over fist. We're looking forward to her and we think she's going to stay further; she loves the ground and she's a big filly and still maturing and we were delighted with her.

"Seamus (Heffernan) rode her the last day and said it was a very good maiden and she was going to progress more and that's exactly what happened. She's a great pedigree and those kind of fillies can make terrible progress. She has been doing that the last few runs, her runs have been very good. She might have been a little bit unlucky and then the ground was bad but she's back on nice ground now and she's thriving.

"She could go to Ascot for something like the Sandringham, she could step up to a mile and a quarter. We'll see how she comes out of it, chat to the lads and the lads will chat to Ryan and see what they want to do."

The pair were narrowly denied a four-timer when Fort Vega (6/1) - trained by Sheila Lavery and ridden by Robbie Colgan - had just another up their sleeve to hold off the late challenge of Broadhurst in the Royal Ascot Trials At Naas Handicap.

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