A Likely Story in the last at the Curragh

A Likely Story recorded his second success of the year, as he took the last at the Curragh, the Curragh 'Where Champions Are Made' Handicap.

Successful at Dundalk in April, the Tom McCourt trained five-year-old had been placed three times since, and was fourth on his most recent outing at Down Royal last month.

Backed from 11s into 8s today, the son of Exceed And Excel was prominent throughout under Colin Keane, and was ridden from the two furlong pole.

He kept on best from a furlong out, getting up close home to score by a neck in the colours of owner John McGovern. Lily's Prince (16/1) finished second under Conor Orr for Garvan Donnelly, while Handsome Maverick (14/1) and Zeeyalater (14/1) were third and fourth respectively. Tush and Split The Atom were sent off the 7/1 joint-favourites, and they finished twelfth and twenty-seventh respectively.

McCourt said afterwards: "He deserved that, and has been running consistently. He's been finding it hard to get his head in front, and Colin said he holds on to a bit for himself.

"He's a good sound horse, and we'll look for something similar."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee