Naval Force and Gavin Ryan (right) break from stalls© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Donnacha O'Brien enjoyed a memorable half-hour today as his Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Porta Fortuna followed up Naval Force s earlier success in Killarney's opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
O'Brien's rookie 2020 season yielded two Group 1 wins with today's Newmarket success — supplied by jockey Oisin Murphy, being his fifth as a trainer and at Killarney today, Churchill-gelding Naval Force (13/2) added to his haul, making a taking winning debut under Gavin Ryan.
The trainer was at Newmarket and in Kerry, Ryan reported “Naval Force barrier trialled well on fast ground (finishing fourth at Naas on May 29) but we always knew he liked a dig in the ground. It was tough conditions today and he relished it.
“Being by Churchill, they (juveniles) come into their own at this time of year, they go on slow ground and without a doubt he could be stakes class. There might be something for him before the season ends but I'll see what Donnacha decides.”
