Common Practice wins thrilling Apprentice Derby

Joseph O'Brien's Common Practice took a marked step up in trip for the 1m4f DNG Apprentice Derby at the Curragh and needed every yard to get up in the final strides. Alma Libre went for home a furlong and a half down and was chased through by Common Practice. The leader had got first run on him and was boxing on along the far rail for Mikey Sheehy.

She kept toughing it out, however, Common Practice ran on well down the centre of the track in the closing stages for Dylan Browne McMonagle to just collar her.

The 3/1 favourite got up by half a length from the 9/1 runner-up. Tudor City was three and a half lengths adrift in third at 11/2. Impero (15/2) completed the placings in fourth.

"He hit a little flat spot off the turn but he finished off well,” said O'Brien.

“We were a little bit worried about the trip coming here but he looked like he hit the line strongly.

“It's quick ground, if you had a soft ground they'll find it a bit quick but we're more than happy with it for quick-ground horses.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson