Blackmore in for winning spare ride on Benkei

Rachael Blackmore came in for a winning ride aboard Benkei in the extended two mile six handicap hurdle at Killarney.

The 7/2 favourite was well backed from as big as 15/2 in the morning.

Once he picked off Runyon Rattler on the approach to the second last the race was in the bag.

The eight-year-old gelding asserted before the final obstacle to come in by three and a quarter lengths. Just Get Cracking (10/1) took second with Didero Vallis third at 13/2.

Trainer Harry Rogers said: "He travelled and jumped well and he had the form on his Punchestown run and that run was good enough to win this.

"He could go on the flat now but we'll keep going wherever we can find a race for him.

"If I had a few more owners like Jerry (Nolan), it'd be very easy. He has been lucky and has two nice horses (also Lord Erskine) with me."

Phillip Enright had been booked to partner Benkei but was stood down after a heavy fall in Killarney yesterday.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes