Benruben wins feature Novice Chase under Blackmore

There was plenty of pace on in the Ballymore Group Irish EBF Novice Chase (Grade 3) and, after the leaders were collared in the home straight, it was left to Benruben (5/2) and Razoul (6/1) to fight it out as they approached the final fence.

The former, a more physically imposing type than his Flat-bred rival, just stayed on the better form the last to score by half a length.

The 11/8 favourite Andalusa was played late by Paul Townend but couldn’t find any extra from the second-last and finished a further five and a half lengths back in third place.

Benruben was completing doubles for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore after Kapard rsquo;s win in the opener.

The winner had some smart form over fences in 2019, including when second in a Grade Three chase at Navan, and came here on the back of a win in a beginners’ chase at Killarney last month.

“He really battled for me from the last and that impressed me about him,” said Blackmore.

“There was no hiding place out there.”

"He really stuck his neck out. Razoul is a very good horse himself so it was a brilliant performance and I'm delighted with him.

"They all had a good, hard race there, I think. We didn't gallop up around the bend or anything, so they'll all need a bit of time after that.

"I'm not sure what Henry has in mind for him but it's brilliant that he's taken to chasing so well"

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy