Stratum negotiates the last© Photo Healy Racing
Stratum ground out his first victory over fences in the beginners' chase at Thurles as stablemate, Cavallino kept him more than honest.
The 2/5 favourite took closer order under Paul Townend in pursuit of Skol after the fifth last and was left in front when that rival unseated Denis O'Regan at the next.
He soon had Cavallino on his tail and a less than fluent jump at the second last gave his pursuer every chance.
Stratum edged left on the run to the final fence and closed the door on Cavallino who was switched out by Danny Mullins.
The leader jumped it a couple of lengths clear and was then kept up to his work on the run-in as Cavallino tried in vain to reel him in.
The 'jolly' obliged by a length (on second chase start) to the relief of his backers with Cavallino earning plenty of plaudits in second at 11/2. There was an 11-length gap back to 33/1 shot History Of Fashion in third.
Stratum's main market market rival, Mormon lost his pitch after the fifth last and finished out of the places in fourth.
Townend said: “He was probably entitled to do it on his run the last day. A reproduction of that was probably going to be good enough today.
"He must be a joy for Mr Bloom to own because he’s brought him everywhere. He’s real neat — he’s like a cat over a fence. He made one mistake here the last day but learned from that. He’s late going chasing but he has plenty of bottle for it.”
This was the 10th success of a lucrative career for Stratum - four on the Flat in Britain, two Flat races in Ireland, three Irish hurdle contests and a beginners' chase.
He won the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October 2019.
O'Regan was stood down for the rest of the card.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
