Carrying just 9-12 with her jockey’s three pound claim, Benefitthewest made the most of her light weight, winning the Coole Handicap Hurdle by two and a half lengths.
The daughter of Beneficial sprang a 25/1 surprise when winning a handicap hurdle at Sligo in May and since finished a close up fifth on two of her last three efforts, a fall at Clonmel coming between them.
The 5yo winner raced towards the rear early on, making headway from four out. She then tracked the leaders three out, led two out and was clear at the last. She stayed on well from there to score comfortably from Run Along Boy at 14/1 back in second. Warcraft ran his best race for a while to take third at 12/1, a further length back.
The 11/4 favourite Benefit of Porter ran a very disappointing race, coming in last of the ten finishers. The second favourite South Wing at 10/3, didn’t fare much better, one place ahead in ninth.
Winning trainer David Martin Kelly said afterwards: “I kind of fancied her off her low weight.
"I'm delighted for the lads that owned her, they are nearly all from my home town of Castlegar (Co Galway).
"She will probably stick to this grade now and might go for a two and a quarter mile handicap hurdle at Galway next."
Active Card followers would be in the money at his stage having been advised to back the winner and Annie Other in the previous race.
