Jericho wins tight Battle with Byron

Only three lined up for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Navan but it produced a thrilling finish with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Battle Of Jericho just prevailing from the veteran Gordon Lord Byron

The ten-year-old made the running in the conditions event run over just shy of six furlongs.

Battle Of Jericho travelled well to press the 4/7 favourite passing the two pole and was driven into a narrow lead inside the final furlong.

Gordon Lord Byron rallied gamely in the closing stages but failed by a short-head to get back up at the line as the Ballydoyle colt prevailed at odds of 15/8.

Winning rider Seamus Heffernan said afterwards:- “I'm not surprised he's won, the surprise is that he hasn't won a lot more.

“He had his head in the right place today. He does show a good bit more but he's won a couple this year and they can't all be top-class.”