Well-backed Star scores under Slevin The well-bred Craig Star landed a gamble in the Club Deise Handicap Hurdle, scoring under JJ Slevin for Sean Doyle. An eye-catching third on his penultimate start at Downpatrick, the son of Craigsteel then finished fourth at Wexford in the race won by The Rite Article. Available at 7/1 this morning, the bay six-year-old opened on-course at 9/2, before going off the 3/1 joint-favourite. Settled in mid-division, he took closer order from three out. He was pushed along to challenge before two out where he made a bad mistake. He recovered quickly from that error and was ridden to lead before the last, staying on well from there to score by three and a half lengths. Cadawill, who was the other joint-favourite, kept on to take second under Conor Brassil for Rodger Sweeney, while Bobbythegangster (8/1) was another length back in third under Andrew Lynch for Donald Cashman. Doyle said afterwards: "He is a well-bred horse who is not very big. He deserved to win that, he ran well in Wexford but maybe three miles was just a little bit too far for him. I'm delighted he got his head in front there. "He runs better fresh so we will give him a fortnight or so and go for something similar. "I have just him and Crosshue Boy for the track. He won at Punchestown earlier in the year and we gave him a bit of a break. He is back ready to go in two or three weeks and hopefully we will have another winner or two before the end of the year."
