Aidan O'Brien hasn't had a lot to get excited about at Royal Ascot so far this week but Emperor Claudius gave him reason to cheer at Fairyhouse when landing the Bobbyjo Bistro Race.
Last season's Chesham runner-up hadn't been seen since struggling in Doncaster's Champagne Stakes, but evidently wasn't expected to lack for fitness and was sent straight into the lead by Sean Levey.
The well-fancied Luisant emerged as his most serious danger but never really looked like reeling the 9-4 winner in, who crossed the line with two and a half lengths in hand.< Bold Thady Quill benefited from a charmed run to claim the spoils in the Fairyhouse Summer Series Handicap.
Market leader Sassaway appeared to have fought off all challengers, but the split came at the furlong-marker for the 9-2 winner and he didn't need a second invitation, shooting through to account for the favourite by a length and a quarter.
Jockey Fran Berry followed up when bringing Sean Og Coulston (100-30) with a well-timed run to pick up the prize for the fairyhouseracecourse.ie Handicap, and was then expected to land the Ashbourne Maiden with the minimum of fuss on Simkana
But after looking the likely winner shortly after straightening up, the John Oxx-trained half-sister to Sinndar was caught and passed by Zerashan (3-1), giving the Aga Khan a one-two.
Race experience proved invaluable as Laldie (2-1) held off newcomer Tweedy by half a length in the Paddy Barry Graduation Maiden, although he had to survive a stewards' inquiry.
Andrew Oliver's Statue Of Liberty gelding fared well enough at the Curragh on his debut but came under pressure once hitting the front early in the straight here.
He knuckled down well for Chris Hayes, though, and despite hanging slightly, held off the threat of odds-on favourite Tweedy - a half-sister to her high-class stable companion Duff, who will no doubt be visiting the winner's enclosure sooner rather than later.
