Crassus (white, black spots) © Photo Healy Racing
The visiting Frankie Dettori gave it a good go on No Thanks in the Grant Thornton Ulster Cesarewitch Handicap but in the end his mount had no answer to the finishing effort of Crassus (11/2) who completed a double for Colin Keane.
Dettori kicked his mount a few lengths clear at the top of the hill as Crystal Caves gave chase but the patiently-handled Crassus picked up well after rounding the elbow and led inside the final furlong. He stayed on strongly to beat Votre Homme by five and a-half lengths with No Thanks finishing back in third.
Keane's earlier winner was Ashwiyaa in the opener.
Noel Meade, winning the longest race in the Irish Flat calendar for the fourth time in five years, said: "Frankie actually made it for him as he set it up for us. He got them racing early and they followed him. He was able to come through which was great.
"It is fantastic for Seamus (Hunt, owner) and his wife and kids, one of his daughters works for Grant Thornton. They were all here.
"More of the same for this fella, he will probably go to the Curragh for a two-mile race on the day of the (Irish) Cesarewitch, it is a 0-90.
"He proved today that he stays 2m2f which I suppose will open a lot of doors.
"He has won over jumps, but he is just not the bravest over jumps."
Quotes from Michael Graham
