Cry For The Moon heads Whitehead Lad at the last before going on to score under Tom Doyle© Photo Healy Racing
On his first start over hurdles since August of 2010, Cry for the Moon took the Goresbridge Handicap Hurdle for his trainer Jim Culloty with Tom Doyle aboard in convincing style.
The 6yo son of Street Cry was a model of consistency last year on the level winning once at Navan in June and placing five times including finishing second on his last start in the Irish Cesarewitch behind Minsk in October.
Having opened at 4/1 this morning the winner was backed into 3/1 however on course he drifted from his opening show of 7/2 out to 5/1 before going off the 9/2 joint favourite.
On his sixth start over hurdles today he raced towards the rear early on before making good headway from the fourth last flight.
He travelled strongly on the outer before the second last and hit the front at the last before staying on well to score comfortably by a length and a half. Whitehead Lad for William Fitzpatrick ran a good race in second at 10/1 with Come to the Party a further length back in third at 9/1 for Eoin Doyle while Not My Idea completed the placings in fourth for Pat Flynn at 20/1 another length and a quarter behind.
The other 9/2 joint favourite Smile Crocodile for double seeking Daniel Miley & Adrian Heskin disappointingly pulled up.
Winning trainer Jim Culloty said afterwards: "Before coming here I thought it would be softer than he would like but I was delighted today to find it drier than I had expected.
"I fancied him to win but was I just a bit worried about the ground. I knew on flat form he was very well handicapped.
"He jumped great today, for the first time and we done a lot of work with him at home. He matured since his last run as well.
"We will see what the handicapper does with him now but I have a 2m 4f race at Ascot pencilled in for him. He will mix it over the summer and we will try and win a few more races with him."
Donal Murphy & Gary Carson
