Having made all to easily win his maiden over course and distance in May, 2/1 favourite Al Gasparo again led all the way to notch his second win of the year in the rated novice hurdle at Killarney.

The Al Namix gelding, trained by Gavin Cromwell for Swords Bloodstock Limited and Dermot Fagan, was pursued from the second-last by Lieber Nicc but stayed on well to fend off that rival's challenge by two lengths.

Winning rider Keith Donoghue said: "I wanted to go a good gallop as he is a good striding horse and it worked in his maiden hurdle here during the summer. We decided to keep the same tactics, he is a good jumper and he did it well.

"He travels and looks like he is travelling well but actually doesn't quicken off it. In time he'll strengthen up and progress and we might step him up in trip now and see where he goes."

Quotes from Tom Weekes