Slieve Bearnagh powers away from the pursuers© Photo Healy Racing
Slieve Bearnagh was down to 1lb lower than his previous winning mark and readily doubled his career total in the nightcap at Gowran Park.
Ronan Whelan had him in mid-division and the pair moved closer on the inner in the home straight.
The four-year-old Zoffany gelding was ridden to the front a furlong down and powered home by a healthy three and a quarter lengths at 7/1. Fennor Cross the 5/2 favourite who drifted out from 7/4, finished second a neck up on 14/1 chaance Clear Quartz Camogue Wood put in a decent shift for fourth at 40/1.
Whelan said: "I'm delighted for the horse and his owner. It's been a long-time coming, Paul (Rooney) has been very patient, and I'm delighted to ride a winner for him.
"The horse deserved it because he always runs his race. Conditions were ideal for him, he enjoyed that soft ground and Mick (Halford) was adamant to stay on the rail the whole way around and it worked out a treat.
"He is probably not a Dundalk horse. He has run up there before and probably didn't show his best form on it. We will probably try and get him out again before the grass season ends."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
