Well-backed Saighdiur does it again

An Saighdiur recorded back-to-back victories in the Follow Tipperary On Facebook Handicap, the Andy Slattery trained gelding keeping on best close home to land the spoils under Billy Lee.

The six-year-old son of Acclamation had eight runs since last year, failing to follow up.

He did however go close on his last start at Galway, finishing just two lengths fourth to Northern Rocked in the valuable ‘Ahonoora’ Handicap last Saturday.

The Billy Lee ridden bay was 12/1 last night with Paddy Power, but was available at just 8s this morning, opening on-course at 9/2 and going off the joint-favourite at that price.

Prominent throughout, he was ridden to challenge a furlong from home, edging ahead in the final 100 yards and keeping on well under pressure to score by a neck. Judies Child was backed on-course from 8/1 to 5/1, and she finished second under Ian Queally for Willie McCreery, while My Good Brother (7/1) kept on well to take third, a short head back under Ian Brennan for Tom McCourt.

Andy Slattery was also responsible for other joint-favourite, Ucanchoose and he finished fourth under Connor King.

Slattery said afterwards: "The ground was as good as he wants it. He’d been running on quick ground all along.

"He ran really well in the Rockingham and he got a horrible draw in the Paddy Power.

"He wants it soft but funnily enough he loves Dundalk. He is in again on Sunday (the Phoenix Sprint Stakes) but he is a doubtful starter unless we get plenty of rain.

"The Ayr Silver Cup is his aim. He idled in front in it last year and was only beaten a length.

"If he gets into the Ayr Gold Cup he’ll run in that as you’d win one as easy as the other!"

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes