Buckhurst lands Royal Whip Stakes as Sir Dragonet disappoints

Buckhurst hit the front just outside the furlong marker in the feature Group Three contest, but had to work hard to fend off the less experienced Leo De Fury, who made his racecourse debut less than two months ago.

Jessica Harrington's charge finished well but failed by a head to provide his trainer with back-to-back victories in the race as O'Brien completed a 272/1 treble.

Winning rider Donnacha O'Brien said: "I probably committed him a little bit early and he got a little bit lonely in front, but when the Harrington horse came to me he found again.

"I thought I'd get to make the running, but Kevin's horse (Manning, on Guaranteed) seemed to be keen so he went on and I was happy just to take my horse to his outside and get a lead off him for a bit longer.

"I was always going to be forward and keep it simple. Once the runner-up came to me my horse found a little bit more, he was probably getting a little bit idle in front."

Derby fifth Sir Dragonet was the disappointment having been sent off at odds of 4/9, but his trainer Aidan O'Brien did land the Irish St Leger Trial with 5/2 favourite Southern France.

O'Brien said: "It just takes a bit of time to get those older horses fit. He gets the trip well.

"Seamus (Heffernan) said Capri (fourth) isn't fit yet, but we've a month now to go (to the Irish Leger) and we'll start leaning on him a little bit harder.

"The two of them will come back here for the Irish Leger."

The O'Brien family saddled all six runners in this Group Three contest, but despite having four representatives to his father's two, this time Joseph had to settle for second best.

He'd landed the opening two races with Brook On Fifth (5/1) and Chrysalism (6/1), with Harrington's 11/2 chance Millisle taking the Listed Ryans Cleaning Event Specialist Curragh Stakes.

• Buckhurst had been noted as a three-year-old to follow by Matt Brocklebank - click the image below for more