Duck Egg Blue strongest at the business end

Duck Egg Blue stayed on stoutly to break the hearts of Bouquet Garni and Ostaiocht in Limerick's nursery over a mile.

Bouquet Garni and Ostaiocht had eased past front-running Henry's Affair with three furlongs to travel.

The pair pulled a couple of lengths clear in the final quarter of a mile and settled down for a battle.

Duck Egg Blue (4/1) began to win up her challenge under Chris Hayes approaching the final furlong though. She got into top gear and mowed down Bouquet Garni (7/1) inside the final 100 yards to win going away by two and a quarter lengths.

Ostaiocht was three parts of a length further back in third at 18/1.

Chris Hayes said: "We put a visor on her as she had been sluggish leaving the gates. She is gutsy and genuine though and was due a break.

"She'll be fine for us next spring."

Kevin Prendergast 's Duck Egg Blue defied top weight of 9st 8lbs in this contest.

This was her second career victory to add to one in a Sligo nursery in August.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes