TRAINER Aidan O'Brien is no stranger to Derby success, but Changingoftheguard's win in yesterday's Ulster Derby was his first in the Down Royal handicap. The well-supported 5-2 favourite was confidently ridden by Colm O'Donoghue who produced the Montjeu colt from the rear of the field and he stayed on in the Yeats colours of Sue Magnier to take command in the final 100 yards and win by two lengths.

O'Donoghue was also winning the Down Royal feature for the first time. "I'm delighted for Aidan because he's a big supporter of racing at this track," he said. "It's just a pity he couldn't be here. At one stage I thought my horse would be outpaced but he found his balance and accelerated away."

Bada Bling headed the betting for the opening Fonacab 90 33 33 33 Auction Maiden but she had no reply once headed by the Kevin Prendergast-trained winner Cornakill in the closing stages and went down by a length and a half to Declan McDonogh's mount who is owned by Norman Ormiston.

If Paradise, with 5lb claiming apprentice Shane Foley in the saddle, cut out a lot of the running in the Louis Roederer Champagne Handicap to defy his burden of top-weight by two lengths. Michael Halford trains the 9-2 winner who could be heading for Galway.