Quest serves up 25-1 Stayers' shocker
The 11-year-old returned to what could be best described as mild applause as punters tried to come to terms with an outcome that was almost as big a shock as Nortons Coin's famous success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
This simply defied logic and gave the layers the result they have been dreaming about all week, a clean book.
It wasn't lost on the experienced Murphy. "We came hoping for a few euro and to give the owners a bit of fun."
They got a few euro alright and not just with Carlys Quest. Murphy was also responsible for another 'no-hoper', third placed Basilea Star. Combined, the pair took a whopping €122,000 plus across the channel.
Solerina set a scorching gallop and had most of them on the stretch a long way from home. But she went from travelling powerfully to empty in a few strides heading to the third last, as the winner went for glory.
Keith Mercer, from Liverpool and enjoying the 50th winner of his career, soon set Carlys Quest alight and, astonishingly, he powered clear.
Mercer, who spent two years with Paddy Mullins, has come a long and way and improved dramatically since teaming up with Murphy.
Carlys Quest flew the final flight and was nine lengths to the good of Kadoun at the line. Solerina, sadly, faded badly to finish a long way adrift in fifth. Gambled-on Our Ben made a desperate mistake at the sixth and was quickly pulled up by Ruby Walsh.
"He's a horse who really needs four miles", said Murphy, who won this race previously with Paddys Return. "He's one those peculiar horses who goes nowhere for two miles and then takes off.
"This was totally unexpected, I was hoping for fourth and fifth. Keith is a very good young lad and a has a cool head on him.
"Normally when we get Carlys Quest into a race we sit, but this time Keith, off his own back, decided to kick."
Mercer (23) recently won the Scottish National at Ayr on Joe's Edge and looked a trifle shell-shocked at this latest victory.
"This is hard to believe", he said. "He just picked up past Solerina, it was unreal. Hopefully, this will lead to something bigger and keep me going."
Mouse Morris has mentioned War Of Attrition favourably in the past, comparing him with the brilliant Buck House, and the six-year-old went some way towards justifying his lofty rating with a game display to take the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase.
In truth, he had luck on his side. The well-backed favourite, Watson Lake, cruised ahead before four out and held a clear advantage into the straight.
But he blundered badly at the second last and, suddenly, began to run up and down on the one spot.
Seizing his chance, Conor O'Dwyer drove War Of Attrition for all he was worth.
Watson Lake was again slow over the final fence and O'Dwyer threw everything at his partner, getting there close home to score by half a length.
O'Dwyer, who has never lost faith in the horse, said: "Wait until he gets a trip."
There is no doubt Morris harbours hopes his star will develop into a genuine Gold Cup horse, but would run a mile from admitting it.
"It really was a war of attrition", he quipped, clearly relieved his charge has begun to fulfil all the hopes his trainer has for him.
"Conor said he hated the ground, but two miles is too short anyway. If he gets three miles then we can drive on, but there are plenty nice races at two and a half.
"The horse never gave up and put his head down and battled. He has had his problems and it is great to finish the season on a high."
Newmarket handler, Lucy Wadham, having her second runner in Ireland, the other was the previous day, was on the mark when United streaked away with the Colm McEvoy Auctioneers' Champion four-year-old Hurdle.
The Desert King mare pulverised the opposition, completing an impressive hat-trick in the process.
Leighton Aspell eased her ahead coming away from the second last and United spurted clear to beat Strangely Brown by 12 lengths.
"I can't believe it", exclaimed Wadham, enjoying her biggest success and whose 22-box yard neighbours Godolphin.
"Every time we have stepped her up in class she has won easily," she said.
"She could have gone round again. We came very hopeful, but this has exceeded our wildest dreams."
Odds-on Akilak was most disappointing. Held up by Graham Lee, he produced little for pressure when asked for an effort approaching the home turn.
Enda Bolger made it eight in-a-row in the four and a quarter mile Blue Square La Touche Cup when Good Step beat stable companion Shady Lad in a thriller.
The pair went toe-to-toe from the final fence, with John Thomas McNamara forcing his mount up in the last hundred yards to deny Nina Carberry.
Commented Bolger: "I am sorry for Nina, but Shady Lad will go for the Pardubice (Prague) and Nina will again have the ride.
"Good Step is as tough as teak and is better the further he goes. I regard him as my Sporting Index (Cheltenham) horse."
The Noel Meade-Paul Carberry combination, out of luck with Watson Lake earlier, made no mistake when Half Session skipped ahead between the last two fences to take the Tattersalls (Ireland) Ltd Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase with a lot in hand.
Charles Byrnes' Gortinard, backed from 11-2 to 7-2, battled on doggedly for Andrew McNamara to beat Kings Advocate in the Lemongrass Restaurants' Handicap Hurdle. Davy Russell should have ridden the horse, but was stood down earlier in the day with a bruised elbow.
Bookmakers held €3,042,321, yet another course record.
