Could Be King digs deep for Billy Lee

There was a smashing finish to the 7f conditions race, with Could Be King battling to a narrow success over Geological and Jassaar

Geological ran his usual ultra-game race from the front, and Jassaar had looked to be going best early in the straight, but in a three-way drive to the line, it was Billy Lee ’s mount who dug in to land the spoils by a head and the same.

Rated 103 coming into this after a maiden win at Limerick in 2018 and some good efforts in Stakes company, the son of Bated Breath was getting off the mark on his third start for in-form Ken Condon who said: “That's great. He's a horse that had very good form for his previous trainers (Patrick Prendergast and John Oxx) but he's obviously had his problems and missed a good chunk of time.

“He seems to be in good form now and had a very good run for us first time at the Curragh. We were delighted as he finished third in a Listed race on Derby weekend.

“We ran him back at Fairyhouse but for some reason he just didn't perform. Sometimes after a long lay off the second time they can be a bit below par.

“That was more like it and Billy said he was very tough when he needed it. He ground it out well.

“We're delighted with that and hopefully he can build on it. He has a high rating and it might not be simple to place him.

“Something like the Concorde Stakes maybe as he does handle very soft and heavy ground. That could be a long term aim but we'll try and find something in between.

“I'm very pleased with that, getting his head in front again. The conditions of the race worked well today.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson