Strong Contender gets there for Smithers and Lee Norman Lee's Strong Contender wore down smooth-travelling Luck Between Us in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Sligo to the cheers of favourite backers. A trip of an extended three-miles-one-furlong was on offer and Luck Between Us travelled well into the lead after the penultimate obstacle. He soon kicked on for Niall Moore, but wasn't home over the last. Strong Contender and Conor Smithers finished with a real flourish to catch them in the closing stages before going on by three-quarters of a length at 4/1 over the 7/1 runner-up. Keep Em Quite was seven lengths adrift in third at 10/1. Lee said: "I'm delighted with her because we ran her back a little bit quick after Wexford, and the ground turned out to be a bit softer than ideal. She's only a slight mare, 15 '3, and the better ground at Wexford was more to her liking. "It was a messy race, and she got squeezed on the home turn, but toughed it out well. "She was well bought by Michael Hogan (owner) because she's by a good sire and is a half-sister to a Grade 1-placed horse. "We'll give her three weeks now and find something else - we'll keep her to the country tracks for now. "Conor is well worth his claim and does exactly what you tell him. A lot of lads come into the ring and tell you how they're going to ride the race! But he listens and he's a good, solid rider." Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
