Day three at the Festival proved an historic occasion with Paul Carberry partnering his 100th winner of the season, and Risk Of Thunder landing the La Touche Cup for the seventh time.
Carberry joined Charlie Swan as the only National Hunt jockey to record 100 winners in an Irish season when giving Moratorium a typically patient ride to take the handicap hurdle.
Fiery King set a furious pace in this 2m event, and Carberry produced the Noel Meade-trained gelding at the final flight to beat Cailin's Perk by 3L.
'He's something else, and you get a buzz just watching him!' commented Meade of his stable jockey, while Carberry just said, 'Finally I've got there.'
'He needs good ground, and we put cotton wool in his ears to block out the noise as he tends to get a bit fizzed up. The Galway Hurdle is a possible target,' said Meade.
Carberry wasted no time adding to his total as Limestone Lad made all to take the Kevin McManus Bookmakers Champion Stayers' Hurdle in great style.
The popular 10yo gelding recorded his 30th career win in this 3m event, and was eased right down on the run-in to beat Bob Justice by 6L.
'That's a relief as it is so hard to assess his level of fitness. He takes an incredible amount of work, twice as much as any other horse and he also eats twice as much,' said Michael Bowe.
He added, 'He seems to be improving with age and, although he acts on that ground, you don't like to risk him on it too often. He needs another run on the Flat to get a handicap rating, and I would like to go for a long distance handicap.'
Risk Of Thunder became the first horse to win the same race seven times in Ireland when taking the Quinns Of Baltinglass Chase for the La Touche Cup.
The Enda Bolger-trained veteran was never far off the pace and, after leading inside the final mile of this marathon test, just held off the late surge of Ballyday Dazy by a neck.
The Sean Connery-owned winner was whisked away quickly from the parade ring, with connections eager to keep him on the move due to an oxygen deficiency.
Bolger announced afterwards that the bank's specialist will now be retired, and he received a great reception from the crowd when paraded in the enclosure later in the day.
The Champion 4YO Hurdle was the feature race of the afternoon, and here Quazar notched up the first British success at the meeting.
Jonjo O'Neill's charge burst through between horses approaching the last, and stayed on well to deny the fast-finishing Newhall by 1/2L. The placings remained unaltered after a stewards enquiry.
'He likes all the hustle and bustle of a race like this. Things went pretty well for him today, and he really loves his racing,' said a delighted O'Neill.
Moscow Flyer 'had stones in hand' according to rider Barry Geraghty when easily justifying odds of 2/5 in the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase.
Jessica Harrington's Arkle Chase winner was sent on before four out and, after getting in a bit close to the second last, stretched clear to beat Mantles Prince by 7L.
'The Champion Chase is obviously the main target next season, and I would like to give him a run before going over for the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December,' said Mrs Harrington.
Cashmans have installed Moscow Flyer as 6/1 favourite for the 2003 Champion Chase, while they make Limestone Lad 10/1 for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Leinster (16/1) came from off the pace for a stylish debut win in the bumper, with Danahar (9/4f) slipping up in the back straight.
Alan Magee
