MINSK justified favouritism in the Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch in impressive style at the Curragh yesterday, highlight of a superb treble for trainer John Oxx.

JOHNNY MURTAGH closed to within six of former champion Pat Smullen in the title race thanks to a double on two-year-olds Petronius Maximum and Gemstone at the Curragh yesterday, the first two legs of a 134/1 treble for Aidan O’Brien.