Blackbeard beats Crispy Cat by a whisker

The market principals had a great tussle in the GAIN First Flier Stakes with 11/10 favourite Blackbeard nailing Crispy Cat in the final stride.

The latter tried to make all as he had done on debut at Cork and the winner was pushed along in third two furlongs out. The No Nay Never colt, who landed a maiden at Dundalk first time out, was driven up to challenge in the final furlong by Ryan Moore and it was on the nod at the line as the Ballydoyle colt gained a short head verdict.

Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said: "The ground is softer than we thought it was going to be but he did well to battle back.

“He’ll go on to Ascot for one of the races over five or six. Ryan said he could get six.

“If you can get a couple of runs before Ascot in this country you are very lucky. There is not that many races.”

Quotes from Alan Magee