Aspar follows-up on maiden success

After belatedly getting off the mark on his seventh start at Naas last month, Aspar followed-up in the Emerald Facility Services Cleaning Handicap.

Making his debut in handicap company, the Tommy Stack trained gelding was sent off a 10/3 chance in the colours of owner Howard Y S Liang.

Settled behind the leaders by Wayne Lordan, he was pushed along over a furlong out. He came with his challenge between horses inside the final furlong, soon hitting the front, before drawing on to score by three parts of a length.

Fit For Function (7/1) filled the runner-up spot under Gary Carroll for Joe Murphy, while Jowana (6's to 9/2) kept on well to take third under Pat Smullen for David Marnane. Intense Stylist was sent off the 3/1 favourite and she finished fourth, a further three parts of a length away under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger.

Wayne Lordan said afterwards: "We were riding him much more forward but the last day we got a lead and we said we'd do the same today.

"He won well and I'm delighted. I'm not sure where next. He's in the Scurry but is well out of the handicap. If he goes up enough they might have a go.

"He has pace and gets six furlongs. Five or six is ideal for him now that we know how to ride him."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson