< Royal County Star had to dig deep to get the better of long-time leader Knight Legend and claim the feature SUMMERFEST Chase on the opening night of the Killarney festival.
Given a patient ride by Ruby Walsh, the Tony Martin-trained 4-9 favourite was produced at the last and jumped it upsides Jessica Harrington's charge.
The pair settled down to fight it out and despite the market leader racing at a trip perhaps short of his optimum, he just had enough in reserve to prevail by a short head and complete a hat-trick.
Martin said: "Ruby was very good on him but you couldn't read too much into the race as they went no gallop - he jumped well, apart from the first two fences.
"He is entered in the Galway Plate and currently has 11st 7lb and may run, provided the top weight (Deutschland) stays in. He's also entered in the Galway Hurdle and a three-miles handicap hurdle there."< Crooked Throw justified 6-5 favouritism with ease in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Claiming Race.
The Charlie Swan-trained 10-year-old may be getting on but he has plummeted in the weights and had the look of a good thing in this sort of company with the high-class Paul Townend in the saddle.
So it proved as he won with a lot more in hand than the official margin of a length from Steig
The gelding was subsequently claimed by James Colgan, from Naul, Co Dublin.< The Pier (7-1) won the Randels Hotels Killarney Handicap with a deal of authority, tracking the leaders in fourth before hitting the front just after the two pole and staying on well for a one-and-a-quarter-length success over Destined For Fame
Winning trainer Joe Murphy said: "He will hopefully make a lovely hurdler later in the year and will run next in a mile-and-a-half handicap at Galway - ground shouldn't be an issue with him."< Frutti Tutti completed a double for trainer Tom Hogan and rider Fran Berry as he powered to victory in the Killarney Avenue/Munster Joinery Handicap, quickening nicely before the furlong marker and going readily clear of Ridgey Didge for a seven-
