Daliyan and Joseph O'Brien © Photo Healy Racing
The market spoke loudly in favour of Daliyan in the nine-furlong handicap at Gowran Park and he got the job done for his supporters.
Rodger Sweeney 's charge, a winner over hurdles at Clonmel in February, was backed from 5/2 on course into 15/8 favourite having been 4/1 this morning.
Joseph O'Brien produced his mount to lead at the two furlong pole and he stuck on well in the closing stages. Dragon Khan tried hard to peg him back inside the final furlong but could only get within a length-and-a-quarter at the line.
“He loves that soft ground and has been running well on soft over hurdles,” said Sweeney.
The trainer didn't seem too impressed with the rating his charge was given over timber:-
“We'll see how he comes out of this but he has been given a mark of 125 over hurdles. He'll be left off when the ground turns fast.”
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
