Umpire's Call delights Dempsey with winning verdict Umpire's Call showed good spirit to rally for victory in the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle over an extended two-and-a-quarter-miles in Naas. The 7/2 chance locked horns with Cathryns Ruby throughout, but was in front racing to the last. The complexion of the race looked to change there as a good jump from Butter Fingers took him into the lead on the run-in. He wasn't home, though, as several horse were getting interested in the first prize and it was Umpire's Call who lowered his head and knuckled down to his task to pass Butter Fingers in the closing stages. The winner went on by a length and three-quarters from Only For Our Man (14/1) who got up for second by a neck from Butter Fingers (16/1). Philip Dempsey said: “That was great. He stepped down to a handicap. “He got injured last year. "Brian Pierce has been a great supporter of ours down through the years. “I’m delighted with him. He’s a huge horse and I’d say it’s only now he’s coming fitness wise. “He jumped brilliant. He had been jumping too high but the two lads, Donagh (Meyler) and Keith have been schooling him over the round hurdles at home. “They let him rip last Sunday week and he jumped very well. “He’s a chaser in the making, hopefully. “I’ll say we’ll get another run into him over hurdles, it will depend on the ground. He’s so big he’d definitely want a cut. I’d say he’ll wants three miles eventually too.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
