Gordon Bennett (centre)© Photo Healy Racing
Supporters and connections of 7/2 joint-favourite Gordon Bennett had an anxious moment when Gary Carroll's mount was baulked on the rail before halfway in the Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurances Handicap but it was plain sailing thereafter.
A nice gap opened for the Prince Of Lir gelding inside the final quarter of a mile and he headed Shawaamekh a furlong out before going on to beat that rival by a length and a quarter.
Since winning at Navan last year, the four-year-old had been runner-up at Fairyhouse and twice at the Curragh.
Winning trainer Dick Brabazon, “He’s had a fair bit of bad luck since his last win, several races he just didn’t get the break.
“He’s a real character. He was ponied back to the winners' enclosure by Korbous. He’s a lovely gentle horse but he loses it. He’s a bad box walker and is out in the field most of the day. We’ve had to build a special pen for him.
“Everywhere he goes he goes with Korbous. They just can’t be separated. We took a chance not ponying him down to the start today but you still have to have the horse waiting for him.
“He’s worth putting up with because he’s useful when he gets it right. I delighted for the lads because with all the bad luck they never give out. They are good sports.
“I don’t think he’d want it faster than that but I don’t think he’d want it soft either. That ground suited him well.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
