Timmy Murphy earned all the plaudits when giving Hi Cloy an ice-cool ride to take the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse today.
The Michael Hourigan-trained gelding was held up at the back of the six-runner Grade One contest, and Murphy was still taking a pull tracking the 9-4 favourite Kicking King, who had gone on four out, at the second-last.
Murphy waited until after the final fence before making a move, and sprinted to the front inside the final 50 yards to win cosily by half a length.
"He's been a consistent horse all season, was fresh coming here and is really suited by two and a half miles," said Hourigan before revealing that the seven-year-old may soon be out of his care.
"He heads over tonight for the sales at Cheltenham. English racing would suit him much better as they go a good gallop there. If he's still with me, he will go to Punchestown."
Nil Desperandum, having his first run since taking the Grade One Drinmore Chase over course and distance last November, could find no extra approaching the last to finish third, while Mossy Green was up with the pace when falling seven out.
Hourigan later completed a big-race double when newcomer Arteea ran out a convincing winner of the Goffs Land Rover Bumper in the hands of Mark O'Hare.
Kicking King's rider Barry Geraghty quickly gained compensation when landing the €65,000 Menolly Homes Handicap Hurdle aboard Macs Joy.
Jessica Harrington's charge, controversially demoted for interference after winning at Leopardstown last time, and Tiger Cry battled it out in the straight with the well-backed 7-2 favourite getting on top to score by a length and a half.
Willie Mullins sent out his second Grade Two winner of the three-day Easter Festival meeting when Royal Alphabet justified odds-on favouritism in the Menolly Homes Novice Hurdle over two miles.
PA