Annual Invictus appears to have thrived for a summer break, as having pulled up on his debut at Turtulla in the spring, Cormac Doyle’s charge made a winning return to action at Toomebridge on the opening day of the season. The son of Mahler was positioned at the head of affairs by his novice rider in a slight change to the tactics that had been employed at Turtulla, as he set a decent tempo in the process. What was most pleasing about his success was the manner in which he stuck to his task after being headed exiting the back straight. He battled gamely and overhauled Minella Beauty in the dying strides before running right through the line to get the verdict by two and a half lengths to suggest that stamina poses no questions for him.