Box & Benson beat the bookies to land Bellewstown bumper gamble

The Cormac Farrell trained Locked Box landed a gamble in the concluding Jim And Niall MacMahon Memorial (Ladies Pro/Am) IHN Flat Race.

Third, a faller and seventh in three point-to-point starts, the Beat Hollow five-year-old touched 22/1 in early shows for this 12-runner contest, eventually going off a 9/2 chance in the colours of Douglas Taylor.

Bought for E75,000 at the Tattersalls Derby Sale, the bay victor tracked the front-runners on the outer under Georgie Benson, improving into a share of the lead with six-furlongs to go.

Ridden from early in the straight, he had a good scrap with Diamond Tipp and briefly Barton Snow from the two furlong pole, gaining the upper hand close home before going on to win by a length-and-a-quarter.

Returned the 2/1 favourite, Diamond Tipp had to settle for second under Aine O'Connor for John McConnell, while the Charlotte Butler-ridden Victor Sweet (16/1) ran on late to take third, another six-and-a-half lengths away.

"He did (enjoy himself) - Cormac was very confident in him before he ran," Benson reflected.

"They set a good gallop and I was happy enough to sit with them and he (Farrell) said that he would just keep going for me. So when I kicked, and they came to me, I knew he would find a lot more.

"He's a very nice big horse. It is lovely good ground out there at the moment and he loved it. He just had his ears pricked the whole way."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Raceday Stewards interviewed Miss M.M. McElligott, rider of Barton Snow, concerning her use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted she was in breach of the whip regulation and apologised for her actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards found the rider in breach of Reg.10.3.(g)(frequency) and having taken her record into account (first offence) suspended her for two race days.

The Raceday Stewards interviewed Miss A.B. O'Connor, rider of Diamond Tipp, concerning her use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted she was in breach of the whip regulation which was due to her miscounting and apologised for her actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards found the rider in breach of Reg.10.3.(g)(frequency) and having taken her record into account (second offence) suspended her for four race days.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham