SEA Of Grace battled back in the dying strides to take Group 3 honours in the Flame Of Tara EBF Stakes at the Curragh.

After moving eyecatchingly from last place to lead over a furlong out, the 7-2 chance was headed by old rival Eziyra but John Oxx's filly knuckled down admirably for Declan McDonogh. The daughter of Born To Sea got her head back in front where it mattered to deny the Dermot Weld-trained even-money favourite by a neck.

Oxx said: "It was fast enough for her as she would like a bit of an ease. They went a good gallop and she has a good turn of foot. Declan gave her a squeeze and off she went. Then I thought she would get beaten, but she is very courageous and has plenty of heart.

"She has gone the right way, and was better today than when she beat Eziyra (at Tipperary). They are two good fillies."

He added: "If there is an ease in the ground, we may let her take her chance in the Moyglare. It's only two weeks away but we'll see how she is. It was the plan to drop her in, and she is becoming more settled. Declan said she is still quite green, so hopefully she will continue to improve. Her dam wasn't that great but did win over a mile and a half."

Boylesports quoted both Sea Of Grace and Eziyra at 25-1 for the Investec Oaks.

EASY WINNER

Somehow drew away from the opposition in the final furlong to comfortably land the spoils in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes. Seamie Heffernan brought the 5-2 chance with a sweeping run on the outside to grab the lead and quickly bound clear.

Duchess Andorra and Planchart set the pace and there were plenty in with chances before the Aidan O'Brien-trained Somehow sealed victory in a few strides. There was seven lengths back to Mick Channon's Epsom Icon in second place, with Godolphin's Skiffle staying on for third spot, a further half a length away.

O'Brien said: "She is an improving filly, and Fastnet Rocks seem to get better as they get older. Seamie said not to be afraid of going back with her for the Matron Stakes. She's getting quicker."

BALLYDOYLE JUVENILES

Intelligence Cross looked in a different class to his rivals as he powered away to convincingly take the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes, his win completing a treble on the card for Aidan O'Brien. Placed in his last two starts behind Mehmas after opening his account over this course and distance, the colt was always well placed on the near-side rail as Velveteen made the running.

When Seamie Heffernan asked the 11-8 favourite for his effort, the response was impressive as he quickened clear to score by four and a quarter lengths from Holy Cat. De Boss Man was a neck back in third.

O'Brien said: "He went to York, but didn't run because of the ground. He missed a few bits of work because of going over there and I was a little bit worried about that today. We'll look at the Middle Park now with him."

Yucatan (4-1) confirmed the promise of his racecourse introduction by leading home an Aidan O'Brien-trained one-two in the Ladbrokes EBF (C & G) Maiden. The son of Galileo, who is out of brilliant racemare Six Perfections, went into plenty of notebooks when seventh on his debut over this course and distance.

Fellow impeccably-bred Ballydoyle juvenile Taj Mahal made the running and battled well but let down favourite-backers for the fourth time in as many starts as Yucatan got the better of a final-furlong tussle by a head.

O'Brien said: "He came forward lovely from the first day and had a lovely run the first day under Ana (O'Brien). He's a very well-bred horse and he looks a middle-distance horse for next year. I'm trying to educate him this year and, if he comes out of this race OK, he could have another run this year."

Of Taj Mahal, O'Brien added: "The other horse is a bit frustrating and is still very babyish. He's looking in front of him all the time. He's not ungenuine but just babyish, and at least he's getting better."

Winning jockey Donnacha O'Brien said: "He's still a little green and pricked his ears. The gap came lovely and it worked out well. He might be a mile-and-a-quarter horse next year."

IRISH CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Sea Wolf came out on top in a typically-competitive renewal of the Tote Irish Cambridgeshire.

An Saighdiur took the field along with Breath Easy in hot pursuit before Sea Wolf (9-1) came travelling strongly through the pack under Colin Keane. Leading a furlong out, Sea Wolf kept up the gallop to run out a clear-cut winner, by half a length from Sikandarabad. Aared was a length and a half back in third, with Hasanpour another half a length away in fourth.

Brian Ellison's Galway Festival scorer Dream Walker finished strongly, right behind the placed horses after being at the rear for most of the race.

Trainer Ger Lyons said: "He bled the last day at Galway so we came here with no confidence. He's in the big handicaps on Irish Champions Weekend. David (Spratt, owner) is very good at finding these horses and bought him earlier this year. All bar one of the horses he's got have won."

To Choose repeated his victory of 12 months ago in the Derek O'Sullivan Memorial Apprentice Handicap. In Our Blood was given a positive ride in front by Caroline Murtagh but was pegged back by Tom Gibney's 10-1 chance, who was produced at the perfect time by Sean Davis to score by half a length.

Gibney said: "I don't know what happened at Roscommon the last day. Seamie (Heffernan) said that he just didn't feel right. Everything was nearly identical to last year in terms of weights, and Sean gave him a lovely ride. He did exactly as he was told. He'll continue to mix it between the Flat and hurdles."

Killian Leonard continues to impress with his skills in the saddle and guided the Andy Slattery-trained Sors (7-1) to a third course triumph in the Tipperary Crystal Rose Of Tralee Handicap.

READ THE FULL CURRAGH REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD