ALL roads lead to York for Saturn after his gutsy success in the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap at the Curragh on Wednesday night.

The beautifully-bred son of Galileo and Alpha Centauri went to post a well-backed 5/4 favourite for the mile and six-furlong trial race but had to dig deep to land the spoils.

Shane Foley was rowing along before the turn in on the grey but Jessica Harrington’s charge stuck to his guns well, leading a furlong out and just holding the late challenge of Tyson Fury by a short-head.

Harrington, who trains the winner for the Niarchos Family, said: “That was good, I’d say we’ll freshen him up and go to the Ebor now as he’s had three quick runs.

“He had a hard enough race here the last time when beaten but I had to go on the Saturday because I knew the rain was coming and he won’t go on soft ground.

“He has to have quick ground, he’s like his mammy! He was off the bridle a long way out and he’s a tough horse.”

It was a double on the card for Harrington and Foley, who had also struck in the opener with Hotazhell.

Unlucky

The Too Darn Hot colt was also a well-supported 5/4 favourite, having been unlucky in running when fourth on his debut at Leopardstown last month.

Foley produced his mount to lead inside the final furlong and he was nicely on top at the line to beat Mount Parnassus by a length and a quarter.

“He’s a lovely horse. He’s probably growing a bit at the moment and he’s not going to Ascot,” said Harrington.

“We’ll take our time with him, he’s in the Railway Stakes but that’s only six furlongs. He’s won over seven and if we’re doing anything we’d go up.

“He got away with that ground but probably wants it a little easier. Unless we went somewhere in France I’d almost sit and wait with him for the National Stakes.

“He’s carrying the Pathfork colours (of Silverton Hill Partnership), who was my first Group 1 winner.”

TUNBRIDGE Wells could be on the Ballydoyle team for Royal Ascot after opening his account in fine style in the Holden Plant Rentals Irish EBF Race.

The No Nay Never colt, a full-brother to Blackbeard, went to post a 4/11 shot to step up from his runner-up effort at Navan on debut.

Ryan Moore asked him to lead a furlong and a half from home and he asserted in the closing stages for a comprehensive two-and-three-quarter length win over Mighty Eriu.

“We’re delighted with him, he’s a baby still. He’ll go into the Ascot picture and if he doesn’t go there he’ll come back here for the Railway,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.

“He’ll have no problem staying further in time but he’s green and babyish still.”

O’Brien secured a quick double in the following Sky Bet Club Fillies Maiden but it was stable second string Grateful who emerged on top in the mile-and-a-half contest under Wayne Lordan.

Her stablemate Mother Nature looked set to justify odds of 4/6 when leading two furlongs from home but was pipped late on by the Galileo filly who got up for a short-head success.

Unbelievable pedigree

Grateful is a daughter of champion US racemare Tepin and O’Brien said of the 13/2 winner: “She has an unbelievable pedigree. She got a little setback last year and we didn’t get to run her.

“She just took a bit of time to come and Wayne said there is a lot to come from her.

“We’ll let her step up and progress away and he said she’d be very happy to step back in trip. It’s all positive.”

Hayes at the double

Fresh from his Oaks win on Ezeliya. Chris Hayes teamed up again with boss Dermot Weld to partner Zaragoza to success in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap.

The Profitable gelding was produced with a well-timed run to lead inside the final furlong and beat front-runner Rathbranchurch by half a length.

Weld trains the 10/1 winner for Colvin Ryan and said afterwards: “He got gelded in the spring and it put manners on him. It was an excellently timed ride by Chris and he just got home.

“I think that’s his right trip, and on a level track. We’ll see if we can win another one with him.”

Hayes was completing a double of his own on the card having teamed up with Katie McGivern to score on Kendall Roy in the Sky Bet Extra Place Handicap.

The 3/1 shot came off a strong pace to lead a furlong out and beat Majestic Beauty by half a length.

“They went some clip. He has loads of pace and when I saw Chris asking him to lie up, I knew they were possibly going too fast,” said McGivern.

“It suited him as he wants a stiff five and to stay on, it worked out really well. We want to go to Ascot in two weeks but he has to go up between 5 and 7lb to get in. If not, we’ve plenty of other options.”

OWJ Legacy got her reward for consistency when opening her account in the Manguard Plus Maiden over six furlongs.

Andy Slattery’s charge, owned by Damien Moore, had been placed on her five previous starts and went off 2/1 favourite to get her head in front.

Andrew Slattery jnr drove his mount into a narrow lead inside the final furlong as she beat Yefimenko by half a length.

Assistant Brian Slattery said: “That was well deserved, very much so. She had been knocking on the door and had a few little unlucky stories here and there. She’s a good filly and she deserved that.

“The owners have an idea in their head and we’ll see where they want to go after this.”

In the concluding Sky Bet Handicap over the same trip Salah Belle made it two wins from three career starts.

The 16/1 shot had weakened tamely on her return here last month but ran out a good winner back over six furlongs, leading inside the final furlong for Robbie Colgan to score by a length and a half.

“She was just very gassy the first day over seven,” said trainer Sheila Lavery. “I’m delighted, she did that very nicely.

“There is a race for her in Fairyhouse but I’ll have to see what the handicapper does. I’m thrilled for her and thrilled for Claire (Noone).”