Beneficial Spirit landed a good gamble in the concluding bumper at Sligo as Donal Macauley made his first mount as a 5Ib claimer a winning one.
Backed from at least 7/1 into 11/4 joint favouritism, the once previously raced son of Beneficial challenged in the final furlong and got the better of Pass The Vodka and Tijuana Dancer in the final hundred yards to prevail by two lengths and one and three parts of a length.
Philip Rothwell, the successful trainer, explained, "I had him sold before the race to some of the syndicate involved in Rosoff but he won tonight for us. He ran at Sligo first time and came back here because the ground is always safe. He is a big baby but I like him and I won that same bumper before with Fairwood Present (a seven time winner). He was ninety per cent ready there and as I don't like to burst horses in bumpers he'll go over hurdles now." (EM)