Donnelly in command with Prince/Phillips

Garvan Donnelly's Lily's Prince gained a third career win in the Fairyhouse Racecourse Welcomes Eventers Handicap at Fairyhouse today, scoring under the trainer's retained apprentice jockey Gary Phillips.

The winner arrived with his challenge late along the inside rail and quickened to lead close home, defeating Pixie Spirit (which had matched in-running at 1.03 on Betfair) close home.

Donnelly later stated “Gary timed it very well and he was lucky that things opened up for him. He gave him a lovely ride and is apprenticed to us and has done very well.

“Shane Foley told me to drop him back in trip – we always thought he was a fast horse, the way he worked at home and in his mile races he had been using up his juice early on.

“We'll keep him to something similar next but I'm delighted he has now won on grass and hopefully there's more to come.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson