State Of Emergency made it two from two as he took the opener at the Curragh this afternoon, the Zoffany European Breeders Fund Race.

The Michael O'Callaghan trained son of Dandy Man won the season opener at the Curragh in March and he followed up here under Emmet McNamara.

Having opened at 13/8 on-course he drifted out to a starting price of 2/1 as all the money came for Jim Bolger's Mimicking who went off the 4/5 favourite having opened at evens.

Settled in third the winner was ridden to challenge over a furlong out and hit the front with 200 yards to race.

Mimicking then came with her effort on the outer but State Of Emergency battled on gamely, going on to score by half a length.

Michael O'Callaghan said afterwards: "That was workmanlike but the ground is very tough and Emmet said it is proper testing ground. He's tough and just grinded it out.

"He's crying out for better ground where he can use his turn of foot. The Marble Hill is the obvious choice now and all going to plan he could be a Coventry horse. He'd appreciate an extra furlong."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee