Proud Kilkenny men, Eoin Doyle and Paul Holden were always likely to have one ready to do the business at Gowran on 'hurler's day,' and their Bell Weir proved up to the task to justify 9/10 favouritism in the J.J. Delaney & Kilkenny City Vintners Maiden Hurdle.

Indeed Doyle's Ashgrove Stables sponsor later on the card and here Barry Geraghty took the reins on Bell Weir in the two and a half miler.

The grey took over from fellow grey, Harlekin (eventually finished fourth), at the second last. The Cork bumper winner then kept on well from before the last to account for Kestrel by three and a quarter lengths.

Doyle commented: "We got him over the line eventually. He jumped better off that ground and he is the type of horse that'll never win too far.

"We had been running him over two miles but Barry said he probably wants a trip and all he does is stay.

"He might go for the winners of one novice next." (TW & EM)