Rooster Byron followed up a chase win at Clonmel last month by defying top-weight with some style in the Book Online At www.limerickraces.ie Handicap Hurdle.

The Oscar gelding was left in front at the last in Clonmel but didn’t need any help from his rivals in this three-mile event.

The 5/1 chance was sent to the front early in the straight by Kevin Sexton and soon put the race to bed.

He stayed on strongly to beat Spancil Hill by 14 lengths, with 4/1 favourite Ballea Fox a further nine and a half lengths back in third.

Winning trainer Paul Nolan said, "He is a big Oscar horse and went through the ground well. His form had been working out and while it was obvious he would win a handicap hurdle, I didn't think he'd win in that fashion but with the depth of the ground, he handled it and others didn't. It is one of those grounds than some handle and some don't.

"He's not going to stay going during the summer as that's what was wrong with him early on as we tried to do too much too soon with him. He's a big gross horse and will stick to soft ground and could be a nice handicap chaser in the future."

(TW & AM)