Dorans Pride bounced back to winning ways when battling on gamely after the final flight for Paul Hourigan to defeat front-running Gentle Mossy in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.
Conceding 33lb's to the runner-up, Tom Doran's 11yo will be entered for the stayers hurdle at Cheltenham, a race he won back in 1995.
'It's a serious option at this stage but I'll have to discuss it with Tom first. He may run again over hurdles at Naas but the Hennesy is also a possible,' said Hourigan.
The Patrickswell handler, after praising his generous stable servant, revealed,
'There's something catching him jumping his fences these days and I just don't know what it is.'
'He's not as good as he was but he had the heart to do it there giving all that weight to a fair horse. He's been a brilliant horse and I'll never find another one like him,' he said.
Phariwarmer (4/5-1/1f) completed an opening race treble for Arthur Moore and Conor O'Dwyer when carrying the colours of J.P. McManus to victory in the 2m maiden hurdle.
'He'll see out the season over hurdles and then go chasing next year. He's a half-brother to Tempo, is a big strong horse and will make a nice chaser,' said Arthur Moore.
Well Ridden (4/9-2/5f), the last winner at Limerick before it closed last March`, made all in the novice hurdle to supply the Moore/O'Dwyer alliance with the second leg of their three-timer.
'He's a nice horse who likes the heavy ground. I bought him as a yearling and he'll make a nice chaser', said Moore of the 6yo, owned by Dublin barrister and Leopardstown director, Frank Clarke.
Earlier, Valley Erne (4/5-9/10f) came to grief at the second last when holding the call by a length leaving Zourito and O'Dwyer to come home unchallenged in the beginners chase.
Barry Geraghty had no luck again at the penultimate fence in the handicap chase when Jolly Side crashed out when racing alongside eventual scorer Clady Boy (8/1) and Shane McCann.
This victory resulted in 218 Jackpot investors picking up a win dividend of #126.30.
The concluding bumper resulted in a titanic finish with Hat Or Halo (6/4f) and Alan Fleming just holding off market rival Have At It (3/1-11/4) and Karl Wyse by a neck.
A Stewards enquiry was called after the runner-up appeared to be slightly hampered over 2 furlongs from home and after a lengthy investigation Have At It was awarded the contest in the stewards room.
BF
