Nicaragua enjoyed her spin around Gowran as she hacked up under Ana O'Brien in the mile and a half apprentice handicap.

She took an early lead and powered away from the big field at the two marker. O'Brien went for the whip a furlong and a half down as the pair moved well clear approaching the final furlong.

The four-year-old filly wandered right inside the final furlong but was driven out to score by five and a half lengths at 16/1. Ask Katie (12/1) stayed on well for second just ahead of Mrs Conn (22/1) and 5/1 chance Gun Shoot in third and fourth respectively.

Trainer Con O’Keeffe said: “She had a few nice runs last year but was then a bit disappointing so we decided to give her a break.

"Her action would suggest that she would like a bit of a cut in the ground but she seemed to handle that today. They are making a bit of a print in it.”

She had a tongue strap fitted for the first time today.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee