Down Under and Johnny Burke© Photo Healy Racing
Connections of Down Under weren't complaining about the first race at Leopardstown being moved to the last race some three and a half hours later as the gelding cut down his rivals to land the first prize.
With the chase course deemed unraceable before the meeting started, officials switched this race to be the finale to allow the chase course to thaw out under the sun.
Down Under (7/1) raced towards the rear of this 12-runner field. He still had plenty to do four out when scrubbed along by Johnny Burke.
When he made a mistake at the third last his goose appeared to be cooked, but he gamely started to pick up approaching the home bend.
A couple of lefthanders were administered by Burke and his partner responded and got a sniff of victory as they jumped the last in third, still several lengths behind On The Shannon and Montana Slim
The complexion of the race changed completely on the run-in as Down Under thundered past second-placed Montana Slim (10/1) and On The Shannon (15/8f) in third who could give no more.
"It was more than worth waiting for! I'm absolutely thrilled to get a winner at Leopardstown, especially for the boss JP," Fran Flood junior said.
"You wouldn't have thought he would mount a challenge until halfway running to the last. They seemed to go a right good gallop and that suits him.
"We'll aim at another handicap chase. He has won two this year and things have worked out well with him. He's so honest you love to see him win."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
