Erins Benefit reaps her dividend

Erins Benefit was different class to her rivals in the ladies’ bumper at Bellewstown.

John Kiely ’s mare had been third in in Limerick and second in Tramore so punters sent her off the 13/8 favourite. The testing conditions were an unknown but she got them in impressive fashion.

She began to draw away from her rivals coming down the hill and sauntered in by 19 lengths. Not What It Seems was a remote second at 4/1, some 11 lengths ahead of the gambled-on Arena Star (18/1 — 13/2).

Jockey Helen Mooney said: “She was very impressive and did it with her ears pricked.

“It's lovely and loose ground and she kept galloping in it. She showed no signs of stopping and is a lovely mare.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson