Senado Square secured a second success of the year today in Dundalk's Christmas Party Nights Apprentice Handicap, repaying half of trainer Andy Slattery's faith in the well-backed 45-rated winner.

Previously successful once at Naas in March, the Mayson-gelding was today backed from 15/2 — 4/1 and, under jockey Cian Horgan, battled to a neck win over Havana Notion

The winner was competing from 2lb out of the handicap, from his official 45 rating. and Slattery revealed “I'm nearly sure he has a wind problem as he works like a 90 (rated) horse. I am going to have to get it solved.

“I'll probably run him here on Wednesday and will get it sorted out over Christmas, then we'll put him away for the grass because he will love soft or heavy ground.

“He's a bit troublesome at the stalls and was probably unlucky here the last night.”

He added "I thought my other runner (fourth-placed My Girl Sioux was very unlucky. She should have gone very close but broke badly and got stopped up the straight. The two of them are grand and I'll mess away with them for the winter."

Quotes from Michael Graham