Eighteen-year-old amateur Alan Crowe recorded his biggest success in the saddle when he teamed up with High Stakes to land the featured the Lartigue 4yo Hurdle.
Warm favourite Theseus (6/4-5/4f) led with a circuit to race but was collared by the Christy Roche-trained High Stakes (6/1-9/1) after the 2nd last who in turn drew away to win by 10L.
'He's a good horse, jumped well and travelled well for me,' said Crowe who was recording his 6th success in the plate, his 3rd over hurdles.
Speaking by phone from the Curragh, Christy Roche said, 'I didn't think he'd handle the ground. To be honest I had second thoughts about running him until speaking to his owner (JP McManus) who thought he would handle it.'
John Murtagh captured the riding honours on the flat when recording an 11/1 double sparked off aboard runaway scorer Saratan (6/4-1/1f) in the 1m maiden.
Carrying the Sinndar colours of the Aga Khan, the gelded son of Tirol was brought wide for the better ground after the turn-in and he drew steadily clear to score by 11L.
'He's come on a good bit from Galway but I was worried abut the ground. He's in the Autumn Sales at Newmarket and may have another run before going there,' said John Oxx.
Eddie Ahern who partnered 11L runner-up Natalie Know's, had good reason to be annoyed as his stall no.7 opened late. The matter was referred on to the Turf Club.
'They had gone about five strides before my stall opened,' said Ahern after he made up the lost ground to fill the runner-up berth.
John Murtagh had another armchair ride in the 2m handicap to complete his 11/1 double and his 60th of the season when he teamed up with Back To Bolgers (5/1-9/2-5/1f) to score for Wexford trainer John Codd.
The opening 7f maiden was started by flag 'due to ground conditions' and victory in a thriller went to Turtleback (5/2f) who got up in the very last stride under a power-packed drive from Mick Kinane.
'They went a bit quick on that ground and Mick had the experience to hold his horse up. He might run in the G3 Killavullan Stakes 7f at Leopardstown next,' said Tom Mullins, son of winning trainer Paddy.
Hill Fox, the medium of decent support when landing a Ballinrobe handicap chase earlier this month, followed up in an incident-packed 2m3f handicap chase to provide Joe Casey with his 10th winner of the season.
Fearsome Factor, a four-time winner on the flat, made a winning bow over timber when justifying 5/4 favouritism under Paul Carberry in the 1st Div. of the 2m maiden hurdle.
'I was worried about the ground. He may go back on the flat this season, possibly for the Naas November Handicap,' said winning trainer Michael Halford.
Shay Barry produced 16/1 shot Ollar Rose up close home to defeat Man Of Leisure (3/1-2/1f) in the 2nd div. while Marys Madera (10/1) and Peter Fahey cam home clear in the finale.
The Jackpot pool swelled to #61,309 with 55 winners reaping a win dividend of #836 while the placepot, also boasted by a Monday carryover, amounted to #21,750 with 434 winners each picking up #37.50. BF
