Hourigans' Unterberg gains first turf success under Hassett Twice successful on the all-weather at Dundalk, the Laura Hourigan trained Unterberg gained a breakthrough win on turf when readily landing the Irish Champions Festival Handicap at Leopardstown. 0-15 on grass coming into the race, the six-year-old belied that poor record with an emphatic success under one of last years leading apprentices. In the first half dozen throughout, Hassett moved third entering the straight on the well backed 15/2 (from 12/1) chance. Switching to the inside rail, Unterberg headed leader Leabaland over a furlong out, keeping on strongly to score by three-lengths. Hourigan said:- “He’s back into the 60s there but he’ll be gone out of it again after today. “Wayne knew him after the last day and I’m delighted with that. I wouldn’t be used to coming into the winners’ enclosure up here. “He won twice in Dundalk and he’s been knocking on the door on the grass as well but just not getting there. “I got him out of Ger Lyons’ and they were very good, they told me everything about him. He’s done what they said he would do. “He’ll be in the 70s now again but we can’t complain, we’ll take the win today.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
