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Cover Up battles gamely to land Sapphire Stakes

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Sat 18 Jul 2026

Cover Up finished with a flourish to lead home a British one-two-three-four in the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s winner struck gold twice in Dubai during the winter and was last seen finishing in midfield in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A 7-1 shot dropping down to Group Two level in Ireland, the six-year-old looked flat out at the halfway stage under James Doyle, but with the near side rail to help he kept himself in the fight and was doing his best work at the finish as he got up to score by three-quarters of a length.

Dave Loughnane’s Partisan Hero was second ahead of Robert Cowell’s Jakajaro in third and the George Boughey-trained 5-2 favourite Rosy Affair in fourth.

Ed Crisford said: “He’s a really wonderful horse to have in the stable, a high-quality sprinter who did well in Dubai.

“Ascot was the aim but he just got no run really, running into the back of horses.

“We thought this track would suit him well. I was a little bit worried because there was no rain and we always thought he liked to get his toe in a bit, but he handled it super and finished really well.”

Cover Up will now return to Group One company, with an appearance at York next month on the agenda.

Crisford added: “We’ll run in the Nunthorpe and maybe come back here for the Flying Five.”

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