Battle Of Jericho speeds to victory in Rockingham

Battle Of Jericho may have found Group 1 company a bit too much last time in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot but he bounced back to form by landing the valuable Tote Rockingham Handicap at the Curragh.

The three-year-old War Front colt was taking on vastly more experienced sprinters and was sent off a 7/1 chance in this five-furlong dash.

Ryan Moore ’s mount challenged a furlong out and just got the better of top-weight Caspian prince by a short-head. Line Of Reason finished well to be just a half-length back in third, with 4/1 favourite Blue Uluru fourth.

Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said, “He’s a fast horse, and Ryan said you couldn’t get there late enough with him.

“We went to Ascot thinking he could run a big race but he was too green and babyish for that but he would have learned a lot and it would have brought him on a lot. We think that he will improve more.

“Ryan rode him in the Cornwallis last year and he got all locked up and he loved it. He missed time in the spring and had his first run back at Fairyhouse. He’s a five-furlong fast ground horse.

“He could turn into a Nunthorpe horse if he steps up again. Ascot probably wasn’t that fair to him as we pitched him in a bit quick.”