The Guinness Kerry National was one of the few big National Hunt races to have eluded Arthur Moore, but More Than A Stroll put the record straight for the Naas trainer when landing the #100,000 handicap in front of almost 25,000 racegoers.
The nine-year-old gelding was always travelling sweetly and, after jumping to the front at the third last, kept on strongly for Conor O'Dwyer to beat Monty's Pass by three and a half lengths. Rockholm Boy was always close to the pace, and kept on a further three lengths back in third.
'He handled the ground (good to firm) well, and the fast pace suited him', said Moore before adding, 'He was second in the Troytown last year, and I plan to give him a run over hurdles at Naas before having a go at that race again.'
O'Dwyer, who has won this Festival feature twice before aboard The Gooser and Desert Lord, said, 'He got there a bit too soon, but after he pinged the third last I decided to let him off.'
Moore later doubled up in the Seamus Mulvaney Handicap Chase where the Danny Howard-ridden Auditty headed the front-running Lord Grey at the last to score by half a length.
Michael Halford's best ever season continues apace, and the Curragh trainer brought his winning tally under both codes this year to 43 when completing a mixed double with In The Dusk and Fearsome Factor.
Rachel Costello (18) is apprenticed to the Halford stable, and the Limerick girl partnered her third winner when producing In The Dusk to head Georgia Peach inside the final furlong for a length and a half victory in the Tom Browne Memorial Handicap. The Brief Truce gelding edged slightly left when striking the front, but the placings remained unaltered after a stewards enquiry.
Fearsome Factor had his task greatly eased with the withdrawal of Hartigan and Goldstreet from the Schering-Plough Animal Health Veterinary Hurdle, and he duly justified odds of 4/7. Paul Carberry elected to make all on the six-year-old in this two miles event and, despite a couple of hesitant jumps, cruised home in the straight to beat Brachvogel by four lengths.
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