Regard completes Irish clean sweep

Mutual Regard completed a clean sweep for Ireland in the four major races at York’s Betfred Ebor meeting on Saturday, in the process proving beyond all doubt that Johnny Murtagh is going to be as big a force in the training ranks as he was in the saddle.

After wins for Australia, Tapestry and Sole Power in the three Group Ones preceding the final day on the Knavesmire, Mutual Regard was sent off an unconsidered 20-1 chance in the hands of 5lb-claiming jockey Louis Steward, 19.

Spotted moving strongly down the straight in his cheekpieces, Steward eased to the front inside the two-furlong marker and had enough in the tank to win a battle with Van Percy by a length and a quarter.