Hunting Tower benefited from a great Ruby Walsh drive to battle off King High by half a length in the Edmond Whelan Memorial Handicap Hurdle, the feature race at the concluding stage of the Listowel Festival.

James Lambe 's charge was under pressure from the third last but the Sadler's Wells gelding responded well to Walsh's driving and he was better at the last than King High which was crucial in deciding the outcome. Campbonnais looked likely to play a big role before the straight but he eventually had to settle for third while the pace-setting Queen Of Cool faded back into fourth.

Cecil Mahon, representing Lambe, said: "Ruby gave him some ride – that's why he is champion. We were afraid of the ground only for that we would have really fancied him. He is a small horse but he is a little tryer. His jumping kept him in it."

Walsh commented: "He stuck his head down and he was good and gutsy. Paul's horse (King High) missed the last and my fella ground it out well."