Asknotwhat and easy winner of opener © Photo Healy Racing
Asknotwhat took the opener at Tramore in good style as hotpot Highly Toxic proved a disappointment.
Billy Lee bounced out in front on Asknotwhat in the mile-and-a-half contest but he was strongly pressed from half-way by the 8/13 favourite.
Highly Toxic came under pressure, however, with over three furlongs to run and Asknotwhat started to pull clear from the two pole.
Lee kept his mount up to his work and the Peter Fahey-trained colt ran on strongly to post a 12-length victory.
Celtic Artisan stayed on for second without threatening while Highly Toxic (who had been a creditable fifth in the Derrinstown Derby Trial previously) faded tamely into fourth.
The 11/4 winner (easy to back from 2/1) had some solid placed form to his credit but was officially rated 17lb lower than the well-backed market leader (4/5 to 8/13).
"He is a consistent little horse, he always runs his race. I said to the owner a month ago that he would have his last run in a maiden here,” said Fahey.
“It worked out that he really handled the track and he will be a lovely horse for staying handicaps later on in the season and maybe even go on to jump a hurdle.
“Pat (Smullen) rode him the last day and he said he was running around a bit when he came under pressure at Navan, and just coming here and going to try and make it again we just said we’d use the blinkers to help sharpen him up.
“He might go for a 0-90 handicap at the Curragh next weekend now, we will see how he comes out of this."
Favourite Highly Toxic was subsequently found to be lame post race.
(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)
