Donal Murphy
Dalton records first ever double aboard Beckett
Ben Dalton's brilliant Christmas got even better in the Happy New Year from LRC Handicap Hurdle as he partnered his fourth winner of the week and his second of the day aboard the Mouse Morris trained Beckett Rock (10/1).
The seven pound claimer from New Ross in Co Wexford was recording his first ever double aboard the 7yo son of Presenting.
Having won a novice chase over the course at the Christmas Festival in 2009 he then failed to follow up on four starts and was given over a year long break by his trainer.
He reappeared in a handicap hurdle at Cork in November finishing fourth to Sweet My Lord and then ran a cracker at Navan finishing just a length and a half second to Battling Boru. One In A Milan (6/1) attempted to make all under another jockey who is having a great Christmas, Philip Enright, but was headed approaching the straight by the winner.
However he plugged on after being headed and pushed the winner all the way to the line just going down by half a length at the finish.
The 5/4 favourite Fahamore who was bidding to follow up on his win over the course on St Stephen's Day, had every chance up the home straight but couldn’t peg back the front two finishing third at the line a further two and a half lengths adrift.