Donnacha O'Brien steers Royal Navy Warship home© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien's Royal Navy Warship drifted all day in the market but punters got it wrong as he finished best of all in Division One of the six furlong handicap at Dundalk.
He came off the bridle entering the straight but made headway in the final quarter of a mile.
He was ridden a furlong out and edged right but once Donnacha O'Brien switched the stick into his right hand his mount surged forward and mowed down My Good Brother in the closing stages.
The winning margin was three parts of a length for the 3/1 favourite (from a morning price of 6/4). My Good Brother had to settle for second at 10/1. Liz Doyle's My Lark was three lengths further back third at 40/1.
Donnacha O’Brien said: “He was less exposed than most in that race, travelled away well and has done it nicely.
"I got a grand toe into the race, followed Colin (Keane, on My Good Brother) and it all worked out well.”
Royal Navy Warship got off the mark on his fourth racecourse start. This was his first race back since finishing fifth as a juvenile at Navan in October.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
