THE PRESENT might be about Fame And Glory and how his tenacious triumph in the feature Vintage Crop Stakes has left him primed for his Ascot Gold Cup defence, but the future looks sure to involve Cristoforo Colombo who won the opening 6f maiden in fine style.

The market suggested that the strapping son of Henrythenavigator wasn’t ready to do himself justice, drifting from 13-8 all the way out to 7-2, but that negativity didn’t transfer to the track.

He went about his job in a thoroughly professional manner and put the race to bed 2f out when accelerating into a clear lead. Joseph O’Brien coaxed him home to win by one-and-a-half lengths from the promising Scream Blue Murder, who will also win races.

The winning jockey had this to say afterwards: “He jumped and travelled well and was quite green in front. He’s by Henrythenavigator who was a good moving horse and he would appreciate a bit faster ground.”

As for future plans, Tammy O’Brien, representing the winning owners, echoed the thoughts of those watching. “He is likely to be part of the Royal Ascot team,” she revealed. The Coventry Stakes looks the most likely target.

Cristoforo Colombo was the first leg of a 10-1 treble for the blossoming Ballydoyle father and son duo with Offer justifying his 1-9 starting price in the 1m5f maiden and the aforementioned Fame And Glory doing the business in the big one.

It was a Sunday to savour for Galway football fans with the Tribesmen opening their championship campaign by walloping Roscommon and Ballinasloe trainer Muredach Kelly had even more to celebrate after ending his 214-day drought with My Girl Anna in the 5f handicap.

Rory Cleary also melted his way out of the cold jockeys list, giving the 9-2 favourite a power-packed ride to fend off the fast-finishing Luisant by a nose.

“She’s always knocking on the door. We decided to change tactics a bit today and heldon to her for a while. She just held on in the finish but she deserved it,” said a smiling Cleary afterwards.

Kashmir Peak earned himself a tasty comparison to one of his former revered stablemates after winning the 1m2f handicap under Johnny Murtagh.

Seven-time winner Fiery Lad has since moved to Luca Cumani’s British base but Ger Lyons thinks he could have found his twin in the son of Tiger Hill who battled on bravely to deny Lord Jim by a neck.

“He’s been threatening to do that. He’s growing into himself and is the spitting image of a horse I had a few years ago called Fiery Lad. I’m not saying he’s as good as him, but with confidence he can go on to win another one or two,” Lyons said.

Lady Bennett was the buzz horse all afternoon in the 1m2f fillies’ handicap but, despite being backed from 20-1 into 5-1 before the off, she couldonly finish fourth behind all-the-way winner Jazz Girl.

Chris Hayes dictated the fractions at the head of affairs and managed to keep enough in the tank to fend off the late challenge of Strandfield Lady downthe outside by half-a-length. Jazz Girl herself was popular with punters (15-2 into 5-1) and Andy Oliver felt the drying ground was the main ingredient in the success.

He said: “Chris gave her a great ride and she did it well. I was a bit worried beforehand about the ground, but it dried up and she has done it well from the front. We’ll give her a few weeks break and she’ll continue handicapping around that trip.”