Hooray For Henry

Aidan O´Brien got Royal Ascot off to a flying start as he won his fifth Coventry Stakes in the space of 10 years with Henrythenavigator.

Never far from the pace-setting Cee Bargara, Mick Kinane always seemed to be travelling better than any of his rivals, despite Pat Shanahan making a bid for home on Pencil Hill two furlongs out.

Kinane asked the 11-4 favourite to quicken with a furlong to run and he quickly went away for a three-quarters of a length success, giving Kinane his 39th Royal success.

Swiss Franc made great late headway to claim second, while Luck Money stuck on for third.

O´Brien said: 'We were very worried coming here with only one run in a maiden and drawn where he was (stall 17).

'Mick got him relaxed and produced him out in the middle ? but when you´re producing a horse out in the middle after just one run and the Ascot stands are full of people, it´s a big thing for him.

'We were delighted with him. We always thought he would get further than six (furlongs) and today it looked like he would. He is naturally quick like his dam (Sequoyah).

'Hopefully he will make up into a Guineas horse, but there´s a lot that can happen between now and then,' he told BBC Sport.

David Elsworth said of the runner-up: 'It´s always frustrating to be second. They just got away from him at one point and he was caught for toe before staying on again.

'He needed more distance today and he will probably get a mile next year, although I will keep him to six and seven furlongs for the rest of this year.'

Paul Cole said of Luck Money: 'He´s run very well, but gave his chance away by hanging.

'He´s a progressive horse, but I´ll give him some time now as he is still quite immature and we´ll look towards going to Goodwood next for the Richmond.'

Coral make the winner 7-1 favourite from 14-1 for the Stan James 2000 Guineas, while the sponsors go 8-1 from 11-1.

(C) PA Sport