Fiesole carried over his recent improvement over hurdles when justifying strong support on the return to the Flat in the Askeaton Apprentice Handicap at Limerick.

The Eoin Doyle-trained gelding won twice at Down Royal last month, and early online offers of 4/1 soon disappeared as he was sent off the 7/4 favourite for his first Flat outing this year.

Ross Coakley rode the son of Montjeu with plenty of confidence, leading early inside the final furlong and just pushed out to score by three and a half lengths. Roibeard took the runner-up berth, with Miro staying on nicely another two lengths away in third.

Coakley said, "Eoin said to just take my time as he said he can be idle when he gets there and the idea with only eight runners was to follow them away.

"I was always happy and he travelled away comfortably. He loves that ground and has improved over hurdles and is obviously in a good place mentally. Hopefully he can win again."

(TW & AM)