Have A Nice Day was always to the fore in the seven furlong handicap and he made the best way home to score by half a length at 8/1.

He won this race last year and his appreciation of this track and trip didn't go unnoticed by punters who backed him from 10/1 to 7/1 before racing.

The five-year-old gelding disputed the lead with Whip Up A Frenzy before taking a definite lead at the two pole as that rival came off the bridle.

He forged on a couple of lengths clear for Leigh Roche but a wall of horses were jockeying for positions in behind.

It was Hunt that came at the winner in the final furlong but he couldn't quite reel him in despite closing all the way to the line. He had to settle for second at 7/1. Cenotaph the 15/8 favourite, was three parts of a length away in third.

Handler Sabrina Harty said: "He won this race last year but was 12lb higher today. He's a little legend and is the most consistent horse in training. He was quite keen and fresh but is so laidback at home on the gallops. He loves the Curragh.

"He ran great at Galway last year in a Premier Handicap behind three English horses. I'd love to have a yard full of ones like him."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee