
The Paul Nolan-trained winner scored by a neck from 9-2 Favourite Johnnywho.
Winning trainer Paul Nolan said: “He is a stayer, but he was too free in the race last year. The ride that chap gave him was great as he never left the inside. He just had to try and keep on filling him. He was brilliant on him.
“I definitely thought Johnnywho was coming back, but I knew my lad would stay, however when I saw Derek (O’Connor) rallying I thought we were done.
“In fairness to this lad the last race he won at Down Royal he looked like he was going to be fourth, but he stayed on as if he wanted four miles. We are just so delighted.
“That was the lad’s first ride in England. He is a super rider that is loaded with talent, and what a pair of hands he has. I just thought he was super on him.
“He never put him into the race until he had to, but I was sure he was going to be second.
"I was relieved that he was going to run well, but when Derek came off to the right I knew we had a chance as he would stay on. Thankfully he was able to keep it going.
“It is everything walking back in here as normally you are walking into where the beaten horses go.
"At least they have improved that area because it was all muck before and you had wet cold feet and a bad result so you were getting hit with a double whammy!
“There is no point in making any plans when you have done something like this today."
Barry Stone, 25, said: “It is magical stuff and I’ve been dreaming of it for years growing up. Nothing will top this now I will say.
“It was all smooth sailing. It just got a little rough on the turn in, but he had plenty left and I was able to get him back going again.
“My uncle was a jockey and he now trains point-to-pointers. My brother, Conor Stone-Walsh, is a professional jockey, so I’ve grown up around horses all my life.
“I never thought it would be like this, but when you get a ride on a horse with a chance you have to take it all in.
“He got a clean run down to the inside. I was holding on to plenty coming down to the second last and I hadn’t asked him too much.
“When I came down to the last he winged it and when he came to the front I knew I just had to keep him up to his work.
“It didn’t feel real at all when I crossed the line. It was just like a dream and the crowd coming back was just madness.”
Joint-trainer Jonjo O’Neill said of the runner-up Johnnywho: “You’re always disappointed not to win but he ran very well. He pulled two shoes off, which might not have helped, but that’s the way it goes.”
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