Andrew McNamara completed the second quick double of the day (Tony Martin having the other one) as he guided Benalma to victory for Co Galway based trainer Pauline Gavin in the penultimate race on day one of the Killarney May Festival, the Flesk Valley Rowing Club Handicap Chase.
The 9yo son of Beneficial held off the late run of Sharadi to win by a length and three parts at the line with a further head back to recent Roscommon winner Information who stayed on for third.
The 10/1 winner, won three point-to-points in a row back in '07 and this was his third win on the course proper having won two handicap chase in Navan in '09. Turtle Gale who was backed from his morning price of 12/1 into 7/1 at the off could only manage fourth, with the 9/2 favourite Code of the West, who was second jumping the last, back in fifth.
The winning trainer said afterwards "Andrew said he wouldn’t want to run on that ground too often, so he will have a break now unless it rains."
