Lily's Prince was backed at fancy prices this morning and he made it three course and distance victories at Fairyhouse in the six furlong apprentice handicap.

He took this race last year for the same connections Garvan Donnelly and Gary Phillips.

Lily's Prince and Phillips hugged the rail in seventh before making their move with less than a quarter of a mile to go.

Phillips soon switched him out from the rail in fourth and the five-year-old gelding was produced in the final furlong to strongly challenge Fast In The Wind (16/1). It was nip and tuck the whole way but Lily's Prince got up by a head from that rival.

Lily's Prince came home at 8/1, from 9s on opening show. He had been supported from 20/1 to 10/1 before racing commenced this afternoon. Hatton Cross (10/1) flashed down the outside of Lily's Prince to be third, a further neck away. Miss Temple (25/1) completed the placings in fourth in this 16-runner handicap.

Handler Garvan Donnelly said: "It was a carbon copy of last year as he was drawn one. I hoped he was coming back to form.

"He's ground dependent. He likes it nice, not too quick, and he got the job done again. He was lucky to get the breaks today again.

"It's great for Martin (Sheridan) who has been a great supporter of mine.

"I thought we might win across the water (with Like A Prayer) but he was second at Ayr. This horse has made up for it."

Gary Phillips added: "Last year was the same, he was drawn one. Today we ran him a bit handier. He seems to be settling a lot better than he was. I didn't get the dream run this year but I got a nice gap anyway!

"He's a little bit tricky. He's tricky to get on and tricky to get to the start but this year he seems to be a different horse."

This was Phillips's fourth win on Lily's Prince. The horse has six career victories.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson