Ursa eases to victory as Curtis doubles up

The Tommy Carmody trained Ursa Major ran out an impressive seven lengths winner of the Chinese Irish Cultural Academy 3yo Handicap providing his jockey Ben Curtis with a quick double.

The son of Galileo was having his fourth career start this afternoon and his first in handicap company.

He finished second on his debut at Dundalk over 1m 2f behind China One in March before winning his maiden on his next start again over 1m 2f in April.

He then had his first start on the Turf at Navan again over 1m 2f and again in April where he finished two lengths behind Athens.

Stepped up in trip to a mile and a half this afternoon, the Andrew Tinkler owned colt, clearly relished the extra two furlongs as he hit the front with a furlong left to race before staying on strongly to score with ease. Cropley attempted to make all under Niall McCullagh for John Oxx at 10/1 but he was headed two furlongs out but kept on to take second while Fliatore was a further half a length back in third at 6/1.