Murtagh masters Johnston raider

Mastercraftsman just prevailed in a desperate struggle with Shaweel to give Aidan O’Brien a seventh Bank Of Scotland (Ireland) National Stakes at the Curragh.

The Ballydoyle colt, sent off the 9-4 second-favourite, remains unbeaten after four starts but Johnny Murtagh needed all his strength in the saddle to get the better of Mark Johnston’s Gimcrack winner.

The disappointment of the race was John Oxx’s 9-10 market leader Arazan who was being shoved along from halfway and could only finish third.