Citizenship showed his class as he recorded a comfortable success in the Europe Hotel & Resort Handicap over 2m 1f for his trainer Jessica Harrington.

Ridden by 10 pound claimer Kevin Sexton, who is based with Harrington, the winning 6yo son of Beat Hollow was waited with towards the rear before he made good progress on the outer to challenge two furlongs from home.

He hit the front a furlong and a half out and he kept on well from there to win by four and three parts of a length. Leblon finished back in second for John O’Shea and Shane Gorey at 12/1 while Knockcroghery was a further length back in third at 7/1 under Conor Hoban for John Nicholson.

Jessica Harrington wasn't present for the win but she was represented by her daughter Kate and she said: “We were worried he wouldn’t get into the Galway Hurdle but he is in it at the moment and if he doesn’t make it hopefully he will get enough of a rise to get in the amateur handicap on the Monday.

"That’s what I’m hoping anyway! (She would probably partner Citizenship in that race)."

The winner remains unchanged at 14/1 with bookmaker Stan James for the Galway Hurdle.

(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)