Point Lynas put on a solid front-runner performance in the Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap to secure an overdue victory at York.
During their four prior trips to the Knavesmire, Ed Bethell's charge had to settle for the silver medal on three of those journeys.
The five-year-old was defeated twice in August of last season and actually finished ahead in a crucial competition at the 2022 Ebor Festival before being penalised by the stewards for interfering.
Point Lynas, making his first appearance since placing fourth in the Group Three Superior Mile at Haydock in September, was a 6-1 shot under Callum Rodriguez. Although it appeared that course specialist Northern Express would take the lead in the closing moments, Bethell's charge remained unwavering and passed the post by a neck.
Bethell said: “I thought we were going a bit fast but he has one way of going and you just have to let him do it. Callum gets on with him great. He deserved to win a nice one like this today, on his last three visits to York he’s been beaten in two photo finishes and been thrown out by the stewards (after winning). I’m delighted for the Martins (Julie and David) and Dan (Hall) who own him and Liam who does a fantastic job on him at home because he’s not straightforward. It’s great to have a winner at York, this is where we all want to have winners and it’s not easy to win here. He was a class-dropper, he ran in a Group Three last time out but I’d say that was a career-best. We’ll probably look at something better than a handicap, I’d say we’d have to know but Ascot is not really his track, you can’t really make the running there.”