Native Upmanship continued the recent purple patch for trainer Arthur Moore when he landed the featured 90,000 John Durkan Memorial Chase in the hands of Conor O'Dwyer at Punchestown today.
Arthur Moore nominated the King George at Kempton on St Stephen's Day for the 9yo, who comfortably defeated Rince Ri by 3L. 'It was nice he didn't have a hard race and we may as well go to Kempton now,' said Moore afterwards.
Moore, successful with Royal Plaisir in the 2m handicap chase, added, ' More Than A Stroll will probably go for the Ericsson over Christmas.'
French raider First Gold wasn't disgraced back in third after jumping well throughout and trainer Francois Doumen said, 'I was very happy with that after such a long absence and the horse had a good blow afterwards.' The King George is next for him also, according to owner JP McManus.
Elsewhere, Solerina made all to win the opener for the Bowe family and Gary Hutchinson, who found the winners enclosure twice on Saturday while Noel Meade completed a double.
Mystic Lord initiated the Meade brace when taking advantage of a final flight mistake by odds-on Supreme Developer (4/5-8/11f) before Borora King (7/2-9/4f) justified strong support under Gordon Elliott in the Conynham Cup.
Elliott did well to get the well supported favourite up close home for a 1/2L victory over a gallant Andrewjames after losing his irons jumping the last.
Racing concluded with Finians Ivy (3/1-7/2) and Ruby Walsh getting the better of Rheindross (11/4-9/4f) on the run-in to deny the Arthur Moore/Conor O'Dwyer alliance a treble in the finale.
