Slevin strikes on Dramatic Licence Clearly appreciating the step-up in trip, Dramatic License got up close home to claim the Alan Dunlop Agri Machinery Maiden Hurdle. Disappointing when last seen at Ballinrobe, the Stuart Crawford-trained five-year-old was sent off a 6/1 chance this afternoon. Racing mainly in third under JJ Slevin, his only ride on the card, the 103-rated bay wasn't fluent at times and lost a position before three out. Making progress on the outer before the last, he was soon ridden in pursuit of the leaders and edged to the front inside the final 100 yards. Nudged out from there, he ultimately came home a neck to the good, with the front-running Cut The Rope, who was well-supported from 14s early into 11/4, the one just denied. Returned the 11/8 favourite, Coded Welder was another three-lengths back in third under the treble seeking Sam Ewing. "Good performance. Always ran very well here in his three previous goes up here," Slevin, who was donning the familiar double green silks of Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, remarked. "He was giving me the feel that he was going to get into a good rhythm and roll away, so i said I'd come around them. Obviously, gave away a bit of ground doing that but he's got that one forward-going rhythm and it worked out. "He was (giving everything), he's a very genuine horse. He kind of parked a bit when he got there, but I always felt I was holding them so I didn't have to be hard on him. "If they find the right races, he will have a chance again." STEWARDS REPORTS * The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined William Butler, trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
