ON his first start at the Curragh since seeing off three English raiders in the Irish Derby last June, Los Angeles (10/11 favourite) again showed commendable battling qualities to deny White Birch in the Group 2 Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh’s May Bank Holiday fixture.

The Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bronze medallist, trained for the Coolmore partners by Aidan O’Brien, and ridden by Ryan Moore, wasn’t completely straight-forward on the way to post.