Ucanchoose (inside) just holds off Judies Child© Photo Healy Racing
The well-backed Ucanchoose recorded his third win in the Dundrum House Hotel Golf & Leisure Resort Handicap, scoring under Declan McDonogh for Andy Slattery. The son of Choisir was 4/1 this morning with Paddy Power but he opened on-course at just 11/4 before being backed into 2/1 favouritism at the off. After finishing second to Penny Serenade at Naas on Wednesday, the seven-year-old gelding managed to go one place better this afternoon, making all and holding off the challenge of Judies Child to score by a short head. The aforementioned Willie McCreery trained runner-up ran a cracker under Shane Kelly and she was returned at 10/1, while hat-trick seeking Sassaway was two lengths back in third under Connor King. Andy Slattery said afterwards: "The handicapper gave him three pounds for finishing second the last day which I thought was a bit harsh, but he is down to a manageable mark now and he is handling better ground better. "In reality five and a half furlongs is probably his trip. He doesn’t quite stay six furlongs but he likes five furlongs on soft ground. "This is his third time winning this race. He won it in 2009, 2011 and now 2013. He was second in it in 2010 and it was abandoned last year. "If he gets into the handicap he will run in the Rockingham at the Curragh. "He is a tough little horse but he is so quiet at home that the children ride him out. "My daughter Anna led him up today and it was the first time she led up a winner." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
