Kilford toughs it out in Roscommon Kilford and Luke Dempsey swept to victory in Roscommon's two mile five handicap chase in which four horses held chances after jumping the last fence. Dempsey kept front-running De Benno and Mikey Fogarty in his sights as he hunted Kilford along on the long run round the home turn to three out. De Benno wasn't for yielding his advantage as he put in another good jump at that fence. Kilford chased him over in second as Dempsey started to exert his arms. The Doorman, who had crept steadily into contention, negotiated that fence in third. The second last saw an even better leap from De Benno but Mikey Fogarty was starting to get after him. At the last fence Kilford swerved towards De Benno, but the pair of them jumped it in tandem with The Doorman just behind in third and Prince Rudi fourth. It was a war of attrition in the final 200 yards as Prince Rudi on the outside finished well, but it was Kilford (7/1) who forged on best to hold The Doorman (7/2) in second and third-placed De Benno (10/1). Successful trainer Leonard Whitmore commented: "He was light enough and had a chance. "I was down at the final fence and said 'go on Kilford'. Maybe he saw me and that caused him to jink going to the fence!" Additional reporting by Alan Magee
