Stepwise battles to feature race success

Stepwise got the better of Won Diamond and Forester in what was thrilling finish to the feature at Navan this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.

The John Oxx trained son of Azamour won his maiden over the course and distance on his last start in May and he was 7/4 this morning with Paddy Powers.

He opened on track at evens and he went off at that price with the Mick Halford trained Won Diamond going off the 7/4 (5/2 in the morning) second choice of punters.

Having raced in second behind the Aidan O’Brien trained Forester, Stepwise challenged in the centre two furlongs out with the aforementioned Ballydoyle runner on the inner while Won Diamond was on the outside under Shane Foley.

The trio had a great battle from there with the Declan McDonogh ridden victor just edging ahead under a furlong out, keeping on well to hold off his rivals by two necks, with Won Diamond in second and Forester (4/1) in third.

John Oxx said afterwards: "It was a bit of a slow pace and I thought beforehand that we might have to make the running.

"Joseph (O'Brien aboard Forester) went off in front and then slowed it down and that didn’t really suit as our horse probably wants a mile and a quarter.

"He is a very nice horse and he goes well on fast ground. We will keep stepping him up in class and probably in distance.

"We could look at something like the International Stakes at the Curragh on Derby weekend or else wait for the likes of the Meld Stakes or the Royal Whip."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee