Equipped with a first-time tongue-strap Ernest Hemingway repeated his win in the Group 3 At The Races Curragh Cup as Ballydoyle completed a hat-trick in the first three races on the card at headquarters.

Joseph O'Brien, aboard the first winner, Gleneagles was back in the number one on Ernest Hemingway, as Seamie Heffernan rode the 'middle one' I Am Beautiful

O'Brien gave Ernest Hemingway a patient ride. The five-year-old improved to lead a furlong and a half out and he stayed on well to beat the easy-to-back Meydan hero, Certerach (finished out his race well) by two lengths.

Aidan O'Brien stated: "He loves fast ground. The hard ground is the key to him. All his good form is on fast ground. He's able to quicken and put his toe out.

"He doesn't get it very often. His last run was in Dubai and he didn't get it since.

"He's very ground dependent and we won't go anywhere unless it's good fast ground.

"There's lots of options and we could look at the two mile race at Goodwood." (GC & EM)