It is not often that a point-to-point winner goes back and wins a 47-60 mile and a half handicap on the level but such was the case as Ionisphere made all in the concluding event.
Wayne Lordan (completing a double having earlier scored on Mr Mojito managed to keep Willie McCreery's 4/1 favourite going long enough to prevail by a head from Asiya She was later demoted to third place in favour of Binocular
McCreery commented: "He might go to Punchestown next week for a hurdle. He is an honest devil who is just growing into himself. The better ground was a help."
Ionisphere won a four runner four-year-old maiden at Rathcannon last September and here he was following up a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle win in February.