Strong-travelling Black Benny took the closing maiden hurdle at Listowel in good style for trainer Shane Broderick and jockey Denis Hogan to land the odds of 6/4.

The favourite who had won a winners’ bumper at Galway looked to be moving ominously well as he closed on Tony McCoy and Worldly Wise (11/4) coming to the last. Despite fiddling that hurdle he won with plenty in the tank by three parts of a length.

It was three-and-three-parts-of-a-length back to Tirmoyle (14/1) in third.

Owner Barry Connell praised his horse. He said: I rode three winners here as a jockey. It’s great to be back in the winners enclosure with a good horse.

“The horse has improved a good bit.”

Trainer Shane Broderick outlined Black Benny’s qualities. He said: “The horse is a pleasure to train and I’m delighted to have him. He’s very straightforward and has got a great turn of foot.

“He probably wants further. We’ll sit down and discuss a plan.”

Michael Graham