Ultimate Optimist provides Christie with welcome tonic

David Christie was out of luck with Vaucelet at Cheltenham but got on the scoresheet at Down Royal as Ultimate Optimist took the Bluegrass Mare Prepare Hunters Chase in decisive fashion.

The Fame And Glory gelding won three point-to-points for Donnchadh Doyle before joining Christie’s Derrylin yard to win a hunter chase at the Limerick Christmas meeting.

The 6/5 favourite led before two out under Alex Harvey and drew clear on the run-in to beat The Flier Begley by six lengths with the always prominent Lord Schnitzel a further two lengths away in third.

Harvey said, "We thought the trip today might be a little bit on the short side for him, but look he has got quite a high cruising speed and we went a nice, even gallop. I was able to fill him up good and early. When he hits top speed, he stays at it and he really galloped them into the ground there.

"He is still a big, raw horse - that is only his seventh run. I got in under the second last and the last, and for a horse to pick up again after being taken back shows a bit of class. He is a horse improving and he'll be a name to look out for the future.

"David is very good at placing his horses. He brought a few to Stratford last year as well and that might be a target. It will be up to David.

"I have been speaking to him and he is on the mend now thank God. He is getting better and I'm delighted to hear it. Hopefully, this lad will boost his spirits a bit."

Harvey also commented on his older brother Ben winning the Plate at Cheltenham on Seddon yesterday: "My father says he is a proven sire now! He'll get a bit of kudos out of that.

"It is brilliant, he works so hard and is so dedicated to the game. It is brilliant to see him get a winner especially for John (McConnell), it is their first Festival winners."

Quotes by Michael Graham