Plan pays off for Ryan as Mad lands Ulster Derby Madbadanddangerous proved brave in the finish as he dashed up the rail to land the spoils in a thrilling conclusion to the Boyle Sports Ulster Derby at Down Royal this afternoon. The Noel Meade-trained gelding bounced back to form in style, having trailed in last of seven on his previous outing at Navan last month. He was held up towards the rear in today’s €100,000 contest and Gavin Ryan had to wait for his gaps on the inner in the straight. The Coulsty gelding got checked just under two furlongs from home but got his split on the rail inside the final furlong, grabbing Pierre Grosse late on for a three-parts-of-a-length win. It was a second career success for the 18/1 shot who had also won a two-year-old maiden at Naas last September for owner Seamus Hunt. Ryan said afterwards: "He's a horse that Noel and Colin (Keane) said they thought would stay very well. "Noel was probably inclined to say to be a little bit more forward, but I was happy enough when I jumped a touch slow to take my chances. “I thought in his last few runs, especially his run in Leopardstown, he seemed to like going past horses. “I just thought he got a little bit idle and did his best work in the last four or five strides, so I thought if I get running at horses and take the chances down the rail, it will probably suit him best and thankfully it paid off. "They were fairly inclined to stay off it (rail), so if anything, I probably had the freshest ground right underneath the rail that hasn't really been used.” When asked if the winner’s best days could be ahead of him he added:- "Without a doubt, he gave me a great feel down from the '3' to the '2' and I was just able to point and go. He hit the line very well and galloped out through it. "Like Noel says, he definitely stays very well and got through that slow ground very easy as well, so there might be a little bit of class there. "I rode a good few winners for him mainly when I was claiming. I think my first winner for him was Helvic Dream in Roscommon. He was very good to me through my apprentice days. “Obviously, he has Colin there mainly riding for him and Adam (Caffrey) goes into him and Jack Kearney I think rides a bit as well. “So, without a claim I'm probably not much use to him. Delighted to get one for him." (Quotes by Michael Graham)
