Unterberg (noseband) beats Solar Breeze © Photo Healy Racing
A winner over 1m4f at Dundalk at the last meeting before Christmas, the 5/2 favourite Unterberg followed up off a 5lb higher mark in the extended mile-and-a-quarter handicap.
Having raced close to the pace, the New Bay gelding led over a furlong out. Strongly pressed in the closing stages by Solar Breeze the five-year-old just did enough to fend off that one's challenge by a short head.
Winning trainer Laura Hourigan was on lead-up duties.
Jockey Oisin McSweeney remarked: "He is (in a rich vein of form), he seems to like it up here. He is in good nick and he just enjoys it.
"I just had to get up from a wide draw, I didn't want to be too far back because he galloped all the way to the line for me the last day.
"If I was going to do anything, I was going to make plenty of use of his stamina.
"I was looking for something to come with me because he has a little look around himself, but he's got it done."
Quotes from Michale Graham
