Steel Prince confirmed the promise of three outings this year when justifying favouritism in the www.limerickraces.ie Rated Race.

The son of Nathaniel was well-backed on track from 11/4 into 2/1 but needed to show plenty of guts inside the final furlong to land the spoils.

The front-running World War was headed over a furlong out, and Druids Cross appeared likely to complete a four-timer on the day for Joseph O’Brien.

However Steel Prince dug deep to just get on top in the closing stages and score by half a length.

There was a gap of five and a half lengths back to Modern Approach in third.

Winning trainer Patrick Prendergast said, "That was more like it. I was very disappointed the last day but, in hindsight, I think it was trainer error as his race at Tipperary took more out of him than I thought it would.

"He had a good last two weeks though and freshened up well and I was happier coming here today. That's the way to ride him too, inside of being up doing the donkey work, he has a bit of 'lick' to him. He only just does enough.

"If he won easy, I was going to run in the Ulster Derby but he looks a horse who needs three or four weeks between runs."

(TW & AM)