When Midnight Game pounced on the front runner, Lord Ben at the last in the Hook Head Chase at Wexford, it looked as though he'd go and win. That's not the way it turned out though.

Brian O'Connell lost his whip on the run-in aboard Midnight Game and the Andrew Lynch-ridden, Henry de Bromhead-trained Lord Ben then pulled out more to score by a neck.

"It is great. He is just so genuine and tough out," enthused winning trainer Henry de Bromhead.

The Waterford handler went on to say: "Bar the second last he jumped brilliant. It was good performance giving all that weight away to the favourite.

"We are knocking some fun out of him. John and Joan (Waterford based owners) have had him since he was four and they have been very patient with him as he has had a couple of little problems over the years.

"Thankfully the horse is repaying them now, he won two last year and he has won two now again this year.

"I'm not sure where he will go now. I might enter him in the Plate, but we will have to discuss it, he could even go back over hurdles.

"I think the ground actually helped him over this trip. Two miles one on fast ground could have been a bit quick for him. Any further and he would probably want better ground."

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that The Amarillo Kid trained by W.F. Codd was found to be lame post race.

(DM & EM)