Colour Blue was all out to hold on by a rapidly diminishing short head to give Willie McCreery and Connor King the spoils in the seven furlong fillies' handicap at the Curragh. Maontri grabbed the lead from the gates as Colour Blue hugged the rail and disputed fourth with Sparkle Factor

Maontri's bold bid from the front started to falter inside the final furlong. Colour Blue was driven to challenge her with 150 yards left to travel. However, it was only in the last 50 yards that she looked to have seen off that rival.

The closers - Military Angel and Byzantium - finished well on Colour Blue's outside and just failed by a short head and a head respectively. Maontri was fourth, a further neck down.

Military Angel, the 5/1 favourite, didn't have the clearest of runs but flew home for second. This was Byzantium's first run for 251 days and the 7/1 chance also stayed on well to be a close third.

Willie McCreery said: "She's an honest little filly. She ran a blinder the last day and may have got there a bit early but she was travelling so well that Connor didn't have much option.

"She's a little fighter, although I suppose we were lucky it wasn't seven furlongs and 50 yards! I'd love to win a Listed race with her and she always tries her heart out."

Connor King added: "I needed the line. She's a great filly and so very tough and was crying out for the line in the last few strides but lucky we held on.

"She always runs a good race. She's there or thereabouts every time. She's probably a bit unlucky as she's so genuine she's high in the handicap but it was great she won today."

The winner was backed from 8/1 to 6/1 at the track. She landed 30,000 euro with this victory.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee