Aidan O’Brien took the wraps off another one of his stable stars over the weekend as Fame And Glory returned to the fray in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes.

The former Irish Derby winner got his season off to a winning start but he was made to work for victory in a race where he had plenty in hand on his rivals on official ratings.

Off the track since finishing fifth in the Arc de Triomphe, Fame And Glory did have to contend with a Group 1 penalty here and it is worth remembering that he did get beaten on his reappearance last year. Ultimately though he will need to step forward from this half length victory over Nebula Storm.

Fame And Glory is at the head of the market with several firms for the Ascot Gold Cup where the step up to two and a half miles would be a major unknown and his trainer indicated afterwards that there are a number of routes still open to the five-year-old.

While his performance was workmanlike it would be unwise to start drawing any firm conclusions about his prospects for the season until we see him run again in either the Mooresbridge Stakes, Coronation Cup or Savel Beg Stakes.

On the same card, Siren’s Song entered the Oaks picture with a likeable performance in the Salsabil Stakes. The Jessica Harrington-trained filly shaped with considerable promise when she was second on her debut in a ten furlong maiden at Leopardstown last month and coped well with this rise in class.

She steadily took charge over the last furlong and was going away at the line to beat Asheerah and the favourite Kirinda. The latter probably raced too keenly early on but still posted an encouraging effort on her first start of the season.

A good deal more will be needed from Siren’s Song in the Epsom or Irish Oaks but she has already come a long way in two starts and surely there is better still to come from her. This Azamour half-sister to Centennial is a most interesting middle distance prospect.

The 1m 2f maiden won by Marksmanship at the Curragh two weeks ago looked a decent contest and events this week have certainly borne that out. The runner-up from that race, Notable Graduate, won at Tipperary on Thursday while the third-placed Zanughan struck at Navan on Sunday.

Zanughan is probably better than the bare result of his Navan win would suggest as he did have to contend with a wide draw and found himself on the outside of the field for the duration of the ten furlongs contest. He can improve on this form in due course.

Chasing Zanughan home was his unraced stablemate Wakhan who ran with considerable promise and could be another potentially above average maiden.

The juvenile division in Ireland witnessed several notable displays this week. Firstly Tough As Nails, who was disqualified from winning the opening two-year-old maiden of the season at the Curragh, made short work of his rivals at Tipperary on Thursday.

The Mick Mulvany-trained son of Dark Angel was an impressive seven length winner and his step up in grade for the Marble Hill Stakes is eagerly awaited.

Ishvana’s win at Dundalk on Friday was notable as it gave Aidan O’Brien his first two-year-old success of the campaign. There was plenty to like about the manner in which she came through to defeat the once raced Bible Black.

Meanwhile at Navan. David Wachman introduced a smart looking sort in Fire Lily who showed quite an impressive turn of foot in the closing stages to win the fillies maiden in ultimately clear cut style. She is another who looks well capable of holding her own in decent company.

At Naas on Saturday, centre stage went to the English raider Inxile who was much too good for the home team in the Woodlands Stakes. It was clear from an early stage that the Dandy Nicholls-trained runner had his rivals in serious trouble and he won with plenty to spare. Nicholls has a terrific record with his runners at Naas while Inxile was taking his course and distance tally to three wins from as many starts.

Dundalk’s meeting on Friday witnessed quite a smart display by Mount Athos who was an easy winner of a useful looking 1m 4f handicap on his first start for David Wachman. A progressive three-year-old with John Hills last year, this Chester Cup entrant could be one to follow over the coming months.

Also at Dundalk a small but competitive three-year-old only handicap was won by Printmaker who was giving trainer Ger Lyons his first winner for Sheikh Mohammed. The margin of victory was only half a length but this son of Shamardal won with something in hand and could do better still over the next few weeks.

The pick of the jumping action this week took place at Gowran on Sunday where Allee Garde produced a fine performance to win the three-mile conditions hurdle on just his third start over timber.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, who ran better than his previous ninth to Bobs Worth at Cheltenham would suggest, overcame some very capable and experienced opponents here. Back in novice company over three miles he could hold his own at graded level before the end of the season and he will be one to keep on the right side of when his attentions are switched to chasing.

The first division of two interesting four-year-old bumpers was won impressively by the highly promising Jenari who was delivering on a fine debut at Leopardstown in February.

On that occasion the Jessica Harrington-trained gelding went down to Waaheb but he emerged from the race with real credit. He looked to have a good opportunity to get off the mark at Gowran and did not disappoint as he scored in leisurely fashion. He is a horse of major potential.

Horses To Follow:

Kasanka: On her debut she caught the eye in finishing a two and a half length second to Notable Graduate in the 1m 4f maiden at Tipperary. She should take a good deal of beating next time and could be a stakes filly in the making.

Teajaybe: He ran quite well when fifth in the maiden won by Zanughan at Navan. This run represented a significant step forward on the form of his sole juvenile outing and he can do better still.

Grey Soldier: He reverted from jumping to run a sound race under a big weight when fourth to Mount Athos in a 1m 4f handicap at Dundalk. It wouldn’t surprise if he made his mark in quite a reasonable handicap over the coming months.