Caspian Prince nails Marsha in a thriller

Caspian Prince rallied well to pip odds-on-favourite Marsha in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.

Tony Coyle 's horse blasted out of the gate under Declan McDonogh to take them along in this five-furlong sprint as Marsha tracked them in a close third.

Marsha improved into second after halfway and was soon shaken up by Luke Morris to tackle Caspian Prince.

The two British raiders settled down for a scrap in the furlong furlong where Marsha edged ahead but Caspian prince fought back and got it on the nod by a short head at 10/1.

Runner-up Marsha was returned the 1/2 favourite for Sir Mark Prescott Bt.

Owner Stephen Louch said: "It's always going to be close in a race like that. I didn't expect to come and beat Marsha today. She's a good horse and we knew we were in with a chance but to actually achieve it and get a Group race under his belt, brilliant!

"We are here with a few friends enjoying the day. He is a star and it's fantastic. We picked him up in the sale at Deauville. From that day forward we have just fallen in love with him and won't let him go. We want to see him finish his career, hopefully with a few more nice wins."

Declan McDonogh added: "It was a little bit awkward for the first five strides. The saddle shifted on him as he jumped so quick!

“Once I got him into that rhythm you just have to let him roll. When the filly joined me she stalled a bit and it gave him a bit of heart and he rallied.

“Once I gave him a couple of cracks down the left he really seemed to reach and it was good.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson