Sunday Curragh review and ante-post betting updates

Saxon Warrior looked a cut above the average two-year-old when making a big impression on his debut at the Curragh.

The son of Deep Impact was one of three Aidan O'Brien-trained colts in the one-mile Irish Times Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden and was a most authoritative winner.

Coming from off the pace, the 8/1 shot showed a neat turn of foot for Donnacha O'Brien to score by three and a quarter lengths from Meagher's Flag. The winner's stable companion Saracen Knight was half a length away in third, with O'Brien's other runner, the 8/11 favourite Christopher Robin, only seventh.

Such was the immediate impression he made that Sky Bet have priced him up as a 16/1 chance for the 2018 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket - Expert Eye is the current 7/2 market leader.

"It's lovely to find them. He looks a very smart colt," said O'Brien.

"He was just ready to come racing. Donnacha said when he pulled him out he took off. That's great.

"He really quickened and when you run those horses you are always hoping you'll find something.

"He's a big, powerful horse. The dam was very good. Donnacha was very impressed with him and we'll try not to go too quick with him.

"He should come forward and we can do a lot of stuff with him. We can come back for the Beresford or go seven furlongs."

There was a surprise reverse for the Ballydoyle team when 2/7 hotpot Ballet Shoes was shrugged aside by Liquid Amber in the Flame Of Tara Irish EBF Stakes.

The Group Three race looked like going to plan when Ryan Moore sent Ballet Shoes into the lead just under two furlongs out, after Black Sails had made the running.

However, Billy Lee had the favourite in his sights and Liquid Amber (10/1) swept by in the final furlong to land the spoils by five lengths for trainer Willie McCreery.

The winner was running just eight days after making her debut, and McCreery said: "You're a genius now when you run them back that quick!

"I really didn't want to do it, but she bounced out of it and they re-opened this race and I saw there were only 12 entries.

"There were only four or five trainers so I knew Aidan had a few entries and it might cut up.

"I was just hoping for a bit of black type and it just shows you she came on a ton for her race the last day."

He went on: "She's a filly going forward and she's very well bred. Gerard Butler had the dam in England and America and she won a lot of prize money. The Niarchos family bought her and I'm lucky to get her.

"She might not run again this year and we'll stick her into the Guineas for next year. She's going the right way and she's a lovely, big, scopey filly. I loved the way she stayed it out.

"We'll stick to the mile for the minute. That's what we'll aim at first and then work from there."

Sky Bet have made her a 25/1 chance for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas next May.

Elusive Time came with a rattling run on the near side to win a 27-runner cavalry charge for the Tote Irish Cambridgeshire.

Ross Coakley grabbed the stands rail on the nine-year-old, trained by Kildare-based trainer Takashi Kodama, and it paid off as the 25/1 shot lifted the Premier Handicap.

On the opposite side of the course was runner-up Surrounding, while Sinfonietta was third and 7/1 favourite So You Thought fourth.

Kodama said: "I know he won at Leopardstown, but I was surprised as he's nine years old and in the last three years he's had loads of small problems.

"Suddenly everything is going very well in the last two months. I had a doubt about the ground as he wants fast ground. Even the jockey said it wasn't expected.

"I was going to retire him at the end of this season, but maybe not now!"

He added: "It's lovely to have a winner at the Curragh. I have six in training at moment and this is my biggest ever winner.

"We might run on Champion Stakes Day at Leopardstown (Sovereign Path). It's a little bit too short, but he finished eighth in it two years ago and is probably in better form now. I thought he wouldn't get into it, but maybe now he has a chance."

Brendan Duke has high hopes for Warm The Voice (4/1) after the Vocalised colt defied top weight in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery Handicap under Kevin Manning.

"He's such a good colt, trouble free and as genuine as you like. He's just a really smart colt and you haven't seen the best of him," said Duke.

"It was fully my intention to go to Naas at the end of the September for the Group Two over a mile (Beresford Stakes), but there is a two-year-old Group Three on Saturday week at Leopardstown and we'll look at that.

"I need to talk to Jackie and Jim (Bolger, owners) when I'm a bit calmer. Naas, for me, is plan A as I'm not in a great hurry with him as he's going to improve plenty.

"He's just a really smart colt and you haven't seen the best of him.