Sort It Out found another gear on the run-in to grab victory close home in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle at Gowran Park this afternoon.

Leavethelighton looked set for victory when hitting the front at the second last and plugged on gamely in the closing stages.

He was kept honest by the 11/2 favourite Zekarya who pressed him from the penultimate flight.

The front pair were trumped in the closing stages, however, as Sort It Out hit top gear at just the right time to secure a three-parts-of-a-length victory under Alan Crowe.

The Eddie Harty-trained winner (8/1) was making his handicap debut. It was third-time lucky for owner JP McManus today after two losing favourites in the opening two races.

“I thought the ground might find him out but he's not a bad horse at this level,” said Harty.

“It's nice to get one. They've been running well but it's a while since we had a winner. He'll go on better ground and options are open for him. He'll probably go for another handicap next.”

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)