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Royal Ascot and a return trip to Ireland are under consideration for Kool Kompany after the exciting juvenile struck for Richard Hannon in the Alfred Nobel Rochestown Stakes at Naas.
Stepping up in trip following successive wins over five furlongs at Leicester and Windsor, the 7-2 shot was a little keen at the head of affairs but stuck to his guns admirably when pressed by Toscanini to take the prize by a head under Pat Dobbs.
Aidan O'Brien's War Envoy was all the rage for the Listed contest as the 8-15 favourite following his winning course and distance debut at the end of April, but while he travelled sweetly on the heels of the leaders for a long way, he did not find much for pressure and was slightly disappointing in third.
It was another notable success in Ireland for the Middleham Park Racing syndicate, who struck in the National Stakes at the Curragh last year with champion two-year-old Toormore, but a first for the trainer since taking over from his father.
RaceBets inserted Kool Kompany into the betting for the Coventry Stakes as a 7-1 chance, behind 100-30 favourite The Great War, but Middleham Park racing manager Tim Palin revealed he is far from certain to head to the Royal meeting.
Palin said: "It was a bit of gamble going over to Ireland to take on an Aidan O'Brien horse in his own backyard. We would have been happy with second, but we went over there thinking he would run a good race.
"He's actually done very well to win as he got a bit upset in the stalls, he jinked at the start of the race and was then too keen and didn't settle. He could be a 5lb better horse when things go right for him.
"It's onwards and upwards from here and the automatic thought is the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Obviously The Great War is there, but I think we've achieved as much as him and you could argue Kool Kompany deserves to be favourite.
"There is the Railway Stakes at the Curragh (June 28) and given that is a week or 10 days later than the Coventry and would just give him a bit more time to get over today, I would say that is at least as likely as going to Royal Ascot."
O'Brien said: "I might have left him (War Envoy) a bit short. We were looking at Ascot on the way here and he got a bit tired. He'll go for the Coventry.
"The Great War might go for the Norfolk. He's good, he's had two runs and we nearly got a third into him."
