Dare To Flare completes a double for the Slatterys

Dare To Flare (10/1) took the Crowne Plaza Hotel Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap to give his jockey Andrew Slattery a double on the card.

The Dandy Man gelding, twice a winner last year, sat close to the pace and got to the front over a furlong out. He ran on well to beat Crescent Lake (5/1) by a length and a quarter with Starlight Red (33/1), who got in as a reserve, another half a length back in third.

The well-backed 3/1 favourite Blackpoint came from a fair way back to be a never-nearer fourth.

The winner has been hurdling of late and this may have sweetened him up a bit.

Winning trainer Andy Slattery said that, in common with his first winner of the evening Sunset Nova a good start was the key to victory.

“He's probably got himself handicapped by missing the break,” said Slattery.

“I have to thank (the starter) Joe Banahan who suggested trying him with a hood. He jumped well the last time and jumped well tonight.

“He's a decent horse, he has thrown away some decent races by missing the break and has even won races after missing it.

“It made a big difference today as he jumped well and travelled.

“You get nights like this (a double) and nights that go the other way, you get more that go the other way.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson