David Christie has had some great success in open races down through the years, and he added to this tally on Saturday when Winged Leader took the open at Kirkistown by a comprehensive seven-and-a-half lengths.
"I've had nine point-to-point winners and two hunter chase winners this season. The horses have been in good form, and luckily they have stayed healthy, that's half the battle. I've seen seasons where you didn't carry any luck, and you were second and third all the time. No matter what you have, you need a bit of luck."
Winged Leader was the latest of those winners when he ran out a game winner at Kirkistown, going one better than he had done in the corresponding race 12 months earlier.
"He has come out of his race well, that's hard on a young horse, it's very difficult for a young novice horse to be in against those handicappers.
"The plan will hopefully be to go to Armagh with him, and then either go to Down Royal or Downpatrick for a hunter chase, he could stay on the track after that but I'll let the owners decide."
Exciting hunter chase prospect Some Man is likely to bypass Cheltenham, Christie has another plan of action for the son of Beat Hollow mapped out for the remainder of the season.
"It took a lot of time to bring him back, he's a quirky sort of character, he's only seven and has only had one run over regulation fences.
"If you are going to Cheltenham, they go a hundred miles an hour, it's flat out the whole way. It can be a rough race, and I'm not convinced that is the race for him at this stage of his preparation.
"We might give him a run in Thurles next week, there is a hunter chase there, and then there is a very good programme with races such as the Tetratema and all those good races here, and it may be better."
Stable stalwart Eddie's Miracle is likely to stay between the flags, following his recent success at Tyrella back in January, and Christie believes that if he were to go for a hunter chase at a later stage, it would have to be on better ground going left-handed.
"He's a precious horse in the yard, it's not particularly enjoyable watching him race anymore. We will keep working away at what we are doing in opens, and won't ask too many big questions.
"There are a few options for us with hunter chases, but we could go to Stratford or something similar at the end of the season."
Dylrow was somewhat disappointing on his last start at Naas, but the Co. Fermanagh handler believes that a line can be drawn through that run as the race was not ran to suit on that occasion.
"They went slow in Naas and the ground was like glue there. He needs a very strong gallop and nice ground, and he hasn't got that yet.
"He'll definitely get an entry for Cheltenham, then we will think about it. He beat some decent horses at Down Royal, and I think that's as good a hunter chase as you'll see in Ireland for a long time."
Christie is also to unleash further talent into the open division with the 13-year-old, Road to Riches, likely to run in an open in the coming weeks for his seasonal re-appearance.
"Road To Riches is being aimed at Aintree, I might run him in an open, then a hunters chase, then Aintree. He will only have a few runs."
Christie is also looking forward to a number of young horses that are coming along nicely at home.
"I have an Ask filly who is a half-sister to three winners.
"I've also got a big scopey Yeats filly, but very racey. She's showing plenty."
