Joseph O’Brien completed a big-race double on Sunday at the Curragh when Al Riffa showed his versatility to claim the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and give his young rider Dylan Browne McMonagle a first Group 1 win in the process.

Following the earlier win of stable companion Above The Curve, Al Riffa was rewarding connections who opted to supplement the son of Wootton Bassett for the €400,000 colts’ contest.

Al Riffa was a course and distance winner on good ground that good to firm in places ground last month but wasn’t in anyway inconvenienced by the rain-sodden going at HQ today as he stayed on strongly in the final 100 yards to beat the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Proud And Regal by a length and a quarter.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Browne McMonagle. “He was very straightforward from the gates. Jumped, travelled good. He loved the soft conditions. I was really happy the whole way through.

“I was keen just to move up to the boys going to the three. I didn’t want them to get too far in front of me in that ground, ‘cos it would have been hard to peg them back. As soon as I gave him a little kick in the belly and he moved onto the bridle, I was always the winner. I was travelling over the top of them. He picked up good and put it to bed very quick.

“It’s hard to believe. Hopefully it’s the first of many… it’s down to Joseph. It’s only the horse’s third run, all his runs have come at The Curragh.

“Massive thanks to everyone behind the scenes at home. We’ve a great yard, Faz, Mark, Tara, everyone in the yard does a great job. And my family as well, I wouldn’t be here without them, all the groundwork, and everyone at the pony racing circuit that helped me get to this level, it wouldn’t be possible. Mum and Dad and everyone’s here today so it’s great.

“It means a lot. You couldn’t have done it on a bigger stage and it’s great to get one.”