David Christie© Photo Healy Racing
The hunters chase in Down Royal looked a very deep race and David Christie was delighted to see his 25/1 shot Dylrow score by a length.
The nine-year-old gelding won on his first start for Christie at Kirkistown point-to-point in November, having won two chases and a hurdle for his former trainer Robbie Hennessy.
In this assignment, he raced in mid-division before making headway entering the straight. He moved into second coming to the last and grabbed the lead on the run-in.
The son of Kalanisi stayed on stoutly to see off Billaway (11/1) by a length. The runner-up was three and a half lengths clear of 3/1 joint favourite Edwulf (who won the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February 2018).
David Christie said: "Neither of my horses [also saddled 11th placed Marinero would have liked that ground and I said beforehand if we could get into the first six or seven, we'd have run well. Everywhere you looked in the paddock there was quality.
"I told Jordan (Gainford) to put him to sleep early and to ride a race as it suits you, stay cool. His best weapon is his turn of foot and I told him to keep it up his sleeve for as long as possible.
"Jordan rode him brilliantly and is going to go a long way. He's a sort of horse that cods you a little bit, you think there's nothing left but there is when you go for him - he has that nice, lazy way as well as two-mile pace.
"He stays well too and his jumping was superb. He'd want nice ground. We'll take one day at a time but there are plenty of scalps taken today.
"A lot of the other horses have been to the well and looked good in open point-to-points but when they come back between the rails it can be different. My horse is just as happy here as in the point-to-point, but I never expected him to win."
