Wodao clings on in Listed thriller

Wodao just held on in a thrilling three-way thrust for the line in the Listed Coolmore Ten Sovereigns Tipperary Stakes.

Gavin Ryan 's mount led into the final furlong of this minimum-trip sprint but both Ardad's Great and The Antarctic delivered strong challenges in the final 100 yards.

The three horses were locked together close home and it was Wodao who got the verdict by a nose over Ardad's Great in the middle. The Antarctic was a short head away in third on the outer.

The winner was returned at 5/4 from the 12/1 runner-up. The Antarctic, who finished out of the places, was the 10/11 favourite and missed the break.

Wodao had previously been beaten twice by The Antarctic in races over course and distance, and in Naas. This Navan maiden winner was last seen finishing eighth in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Trainer Donnacha O'Brien said: "He is a tough horse, tries his best and I think he is improving. He didn't get an easy lead today and was hassled on the front and that started to bite in the last half furlong.

"He is uncomplicated, has plenty pace and is very genuine so we jumped and let him at it. There was very little between him and The Antarctic and my two- year-olds are improving with every run, so it is good to see him do that.

"He is a solid, fast horse, we'll have plenty fun with him and there is the (Group 3) Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs at Goodwood which we will look at next."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes