Twice runner-up in the contest previously, Sunchart always travelled strongly under jockey Andrew Slattery Jnr and took the lead with two furlongs to run, pulling clear of the opposition to secure a six-and-a-half length success. He relished the heavy ground, and connections identified the Ormonde Stakes at Chester as a future target if the conditions were right.

"The horses deserved it more than any of us. Pat (Garvey, owner) has had great perseverance with him and it's great that he's kept going," said Slattery.

"He was always a very good horse and he likes this track. He likes going left-handed and likes soft ground.

"He's been a hard horse to place and we maybe aimed a bit high at times as well.

"He always had the ability, he was second in this last year and was barely beaten at Leopardstown in a Listed race (Trigo Stakes).

"People were doubting him for being doggy but he's not, he's just a horse that has had a lot of problems.

"It was just about getting him right on the day and today he was right.

"I don't think there is much coming up for him, the ground is the big thing. He might go back to Chester if the ground was soft, he ran well when fourth in the Ormonde Stakes last year."

Elsewhere on the card, Paddy Twomey's Purple Lily caught the eye with a comfortable success in the TRM Equine Nutrition Race. By Calyx, the three-year-old filly had won at Galway on her sole start as a juvenile and appears to be an exciting prospect for the yard.

"We might look at a Guineas trial and then the Irish Guineas. I think we'll take our time," said Twomey.

"She's versatile, she has a lovely attitude and is a lovely filly to train. Hopefully we have a good year with her."