Istan defies top-weight under Moore Istan defied top-weight to win the Gabriel Curran Memorial Nursery Handicap under Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien. With four good efforts to his name, the son of Excelebration was given a mark of 82, and he was available at 9/4 this morning. He opened on-course at 7/4, touching 13/8, before going off the clear favourite at 15/8. Settled towards rear he was eighth halfway. He was pushed along from two furlongs out and while he was initially switched left for room, he then went right. He was ridden to the front inside the final furlong, and kept on well in the closing stages, going on to score by a length. Rock In Peace (8/1) finished second under Caroline Murtagh for Ger Lyons, while Joyce Compton (8/1) was another length back in third under Connor King for Willie McCreery. Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "We always liked him at home and he'd a nice run the first day but was a bit disappointing after that. He travelled well today and it looks like he'll get further." Additional reporting by Alan Magee
