Aidan O’Brien may have been out of luck at Ascot on Saturday but closer to home his Grosvenor Square looked a real smart prospect when proving much too strong for his rivals in the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes on heavy ground at Leopardstown.

The son of Galileo, third in the Beresford Stakes previously, led from start to finish for Seamie Heffernan. Edged out to the centre of the track in the straight, none of his five rivals got close to him and he eventually came over four lengths clear of stablemate Cambridge.

A half brother to Irish Derby winner Santiago, the winner was scoring over nine furlongs here, and looks a real contender for Epsom on this showing.

Chris Armstrong, representing Aidan O’Brien said: “He ran a good race in the Beresford. He is a horse with a very good attitude, handles an ease in the ground but will go on better ground. He’s a horse to look forward to.

“He’ll likely come back here next year for the classic trials. He’s a typical Derby type, has a very good attitude, a typical Galileo and is one to look forward to - he will come on physically and mentally and is one to make the winter that bit shorter.

“The second horse is a fair horse as well, he’s still a work in progress. He went to Salisbury and that brought him on a lot. He came here still a bit ring rusty. They are two nice horses but you’d really love the winner.”

Last gasp Coast takes Killavullan

Atlantic Coast defied ultra tough conditions to wear down Bright Stripes and claim the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes right on the line for Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh.

The Al Shira’aa Farms-owned son of Kodiac brought strong form into this seven-furlong contest, having previously finished third to Diego Velazquez in the Champions Juvenile Stakes here at the Irish Champions Festival.

He was ridden patiently by McDonogh who unleashed him widest of all runners in the straight. It was between him and Bright Stripes inside the final two furlongs, and he needed every yard to get up and beat the runner-up, who came five and a half lengths clear of the favourite Military.

“I was worried about the ground and I thought he was spinning a bit for the first furlong,” McDonogh said. “I had planned to just sit second and third but then I was happy to let him come back and get comfortable and follow Andy Oliver’s horse (Bright Stripes), knowing he’d like the ground and he could lead me into the race, a fit horse.

“He took a while to wear him down. He was never really enjoying the conditions today but his will to win was good.

I think you’ll see this horse in a better light on good to soft summer ground, a bit of kindness in it. I thought turning in I’d win easy, but he was pretty much hating the conditions. Mentally he is still tuning into it, halfway in the run he is still daydreaming. It’s probably a good thing because he might get a bit of distance next year.

On his trip next season, McDonogh added: “He’ll give himself a chance of getting 10 furlongs down the line but I think you’ll see a better horse over a stiff mile, good to soft ground.”

Weld unleashes two smart fillies

Dermot Weld has won maidens on this card with subsequent stakes winners in the past and he unleashed two more smart fillies in Azada and Elizabeth Jane.

Azada, the Aga Khan-owned daughter of Siyouni raced well off the pace in the opening seven-furlong fillies maiden, but once asked, she made her ground stoutly up to the leaders on the turn in and her rider Leigh Roche always looked confident she’d run down market rivals Harbour Gem and Fleur De Chine.

A half sister to five-time Group 1 winner in Australia, The Autumn Sun, she surprised her connections to an extent.

“I was expecting her to run well, I wasn’t expecting her to win like that,” said Kris Weld. “Usually horses who have good placed experience have a big advantage when the ground is that bad.

“She is a beautifully bred filly. To come from where she did, in that kind of ground, and win the way she did, you’d have to be impressed. She is a big immature filly and I’d like to think there will be a lot of improvement in her. There is plenty to look forward to.”

Elizabeth Jane, a daughter of Dubawi and the stable and owner's Group 2 winner Sapphire, later took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile.

Held up by Donogh O'Connor, the Moyglare Stud-owned filly came through a gap to make her challenge just after the two-furlong pole and came right away from favourite Andromeda.

"She went through the ground which you know, you couldn’t be sure of beforehand," said Kris Weld. "Very nice filly, very pleasing, Donogh gave her a lovely ride She has come through them like a knife through butter and come home impressively."

On the stable's historic success on this card, Weld added: "In two weeks time the season is over so it’s a lovely opportunity to get back-end two-year-olds out and let them see what life is about. Fortunately two of them have won well today. Leopardstown has been good to us and long may it continue."

Dreams alive

Ocean Of Dreams was another really smart juvenile winner on the card for Aidan O'Brien as he came right away from his rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for the colts over a mile.

The son of Fastnet Rock was held up by Seamie Heffernan, making his challenge on the outside in the straight, and he pulled right away from his rivals in the final furlong for a six-length win.

"He has been coming along nicely at home and was just ready to start today," stable representative Chris Armstrong said. He will come on a lot fitness wise. It’s great to get a run into him at this time with regard to next year and he has the makings of a very good horse.

"Seamus spoke very favourably of him. He said once he got him straightened up and balanced, he let down very strongly. He has got everything, he has the pedigree, the attitude and the physical. We’ll probably bring him back for a classic trial next year and he’s one to look forward to."