Luke's Benefit (grey) is driven out by Brian Cawley to beat Treat Yourself (white face) and Knocklong (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Luke’s Benefit completed a hat-trick of wins as he took the Joe Byrne Memorial Handicap Chase, scoring under Brian Cawley for Denis Hogan.
The twelve-year-old was recording his ninth career success today, and after winning a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, he followed up on New Year’s Eve at Punchestown by winning a handicap chase (also partnered by Cawley on both occasions).
Available at 5/2 this morning, the son of Beneficial drifted out to 10/3 on-course, the price he went off at.
Given a confident ride by Cawley, the grey gelding made virtually all, travelling strongly in front between the final two fences, and despite making a mistake at the last, he was driven out on the run-in to score by a length and a quarter. Treat Yourself who was 5/1 last night with Paddy Power, was backed from 5/2 to 9/4 favourite on-course, and he finished second under Davy Russell for Arthur Moore, while Knocklong was a further half a length back in third under Alan Crowe for Christy Roche at 13/2.
Denis Hogan said afterwards: "He came for this race last year but he had a hard race at Punchestown and he was probably a bit tired. This time around he hadn’t as a hard race beforehand.
"Brian gave him a textbook ride, he was everywhere you wanted him to be. He had to ask him at the last as he was in that position.
"The horse is in good form, we got him as a nine-year-old and we have him three years now. That’s his ninth win and there is no sign of retiring him at the moment.
"There is possibly another hurdle in him off his rating. He owns us nothing from a long time ago and anything we get is bonus.
"The horses are running really well and we have had a good week. We have had four winners including a winner in England (since Christmas).
"We have had runners everyday since Stephens Day, but after today we will have a little break and we will have no runners for three weeks."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Worldor (FR), trained by Henry de Bromhead, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard post race.
A.E. Lynch, rider of Worldor (FR), trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran too free early and consequently failed to see out the trip.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
