Waitingfortheday came out on top of a battle with the favourite Crafty Madam in the fillies' handicap at the Curragh.

The four-year-old tracked Leagan Gaeilge before being asked to deliver her challenge passing the furlong marker.

As she got on terms with the leader, Crafty Madam also unleashed her finish down the outside as three horses raced in line in the final 200 yards.

Laegan Gaeilge was the first to crack as Waitingfortheday took a narrow lead from Crafty Madam.

The pair fought the spoils out in the final 150 yards but it Waitingfortheday who stuck her neck out and refused to be passed.

She delivered by half a length at 9/2 from the 7/4 'jolly'. Laegan Gaeilge was two and a quarter lengths adrift in third.

Trainer Joseph O'Brien said: "Donnacha (O'Brien) gave her a lovely ride.

“There wasn't much pace on, and we were probably going to be a bit further back, but he grabbed the bull by the horns and went on and sat second.

“He controlled most of the race and then she was tough when he needed her when Ken Condon's filly (Crafty Madam) came. She toughed it out well.

“She's a great filly for the lads as she been so consistent. For the last few years she's seldom ran a bad race and that's probably her career best today.

“It's a good pot. There a bunch of these fillies' handicaps this year and they are fantastic for these fillies.

“There are animals staying in training just for those races. She could have gone to the shed last year but she has great money to run for all year.

“She could go to Galway, she'll have plenty of entries.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson