Willie Mullins, successful in the feature just over half-an-hour earlier with Quevega completed a quick double on day three of the Festival when Kerb Appeal took the Naas Court Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
The whole complexion of the three mile event changed at the final bend when leader Vics Canvas slipped up and hampered a number of rivals in behind.
Kerb Appeal (14/1) was the chief beneficiary as he got a lovely run up the inner for David Casey to strike the front and kept on under pressure to beat Rivage D'Or (16/1), one of those who lost some ground in the incident approaching the straight, by two lengths. Define (25/1) was a further five lengths back in third, with Saville Row (50/1) another six lengths adrift in fourth.
Mullins said: “That was a lucky win. His Fairyhouse run was good enough and we might go chasing with him now. I always thought he was a summer horse.”
Casey said: “I had a lot of luck there, and was fortunate a number of times in the race. He actually got there a bit too soon. He's a brilliant jumper and will be a nice horse over fences next season.”
Alan Magee
