Black Benny and Denis O'Regan (yellow colours) win the rated hurdle© Photo Healy Racing
Denis O’Regan was seen at his confident best aboard Black Benny who rolled back the years to take the Kerry Foods Rated Hurdle at Down Royal.
The 11-year-old gelding was recording his seventh career win but his first in nearly two years, and O’Regan seemed at pains to mount his challenge as late as possible. Mai Fitzs Jack set the pace and was still in front at the last despite jumping out to the left at the penultimate flight.
However O’Regan was travelling ominously well on the Shane Broderick-trained veteran, and the easy-to-back 12/1 chance was just pushed out in the closing stages to collar the grey by a neck. Prickly couldn’t find any extra from before the last, and the 6/4 favourite was a further six lengths back in third.
O’Regan said, “I gave him a fools ride in Killarney and should have timed it later. Coming back in trip to two miles they were always going to go a gallop and I could deliver him a little bit later. He jumped very well but he does idle in front.
“I said to Barry (Connell, owner) after Killarney that I’d love another go on him. Today he loved the gallop and he loved the ground. To be honest coming down the hill I wasn’t sure what he’d find but he found a bit for pressure.
“Shane has done a great job with him, and it’s great to ride a winner for Shane as well.”
(MG & AM)
