Benefficient takes the spoils at Leopardstown

Tony Martin’s Benefficient claimed the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown but was forced to wait for the result of a steward’s inquiry before being declared the winner.

Despite winning the Irish Arkle over the course and distance earlier in the year and landing the Jewson Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the seven-year-old appeared up against it in this Grade One event.

Last year’s winner Sizing Europe cut out much of the running, but the writing was on the wall for his supporters when he backed off a fence going down the back straight and received a reminder from Andrew Lynch.

As the veteran began to feel the pinch, the pack closed up, with Willie Mullins’ 7-4 favourite Arvika Ligeonniere travelling powerfully rounding the home turn.

However, he could not pick up after the last fence and 9-1 shot Benefficient galloped all the way to the line under Bryan Cooper for a decisive victory.

Hidden Cyclone, who appeared to be slightly impeded by the winner after the last and had to switch, which led to a lengthy steward’s inquiry, ran a fantastic race to finish second for Shark Hanlon, with Arvika Ligeonniere not far away in third.

Sizing Europe was a distant fourth.

The Tullow Tank secured his second Grade One prize of the season with a determined display in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle.

Philip Fenton’s star youngster arrived at Foxrock off the back of victory in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse, but was still not favourite with Willie Mullins’ previously unbeaten gelding Moyle Park the 6-5 market leader.

Moyle Park travelled best into the straight, but emptied quickly under Ruby Walsh and The Tullow Tank was in front jumping the final flight. The 9-4 chance galloped all the way to the line to score comfortably in the hands of Danny Mullins, with the front-running King Of The Picts passing Moyle Park on the run-in to grab second.

Earlier, Tony McCoy was at his brilliant best as the Aidan O’Brien-trained Plinth claimed a last-gasp victory in the first race of the day. Willie Mullins’ French recruit Ivan Grozny was all the rage for the two-mile contest and the even-money favourite moved sweetly through the race in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

The market leader quickened to lead approaching the final flight, but McCoy and O’Brien’s decent Flat runner Plinth (3-1) had him in their sights. Ivan Grozny looked set to hold on, but in the dying strides the JP McManus-owned Plinth eroded the deficit and got up by a head.

Double Irish then annihilated his opponents in the Paddy Power Maiden Hurdle. Gordon Elliott’s point-to-point graduate showed little promise on his first two starts over hurdles and was a 16-1 shot to make it third-time lucky in the hands of Davy Russell.

It was clear from an early stage the five-year-old was enjoying his task and after taking up the running leaving the back straight, he swiftly left the chasing pack trailing in his wake. Double Irish skipped over the final flight and despite being eased right down as he passed the post, Russell’s partner still had 13 lengths in hand over 11-8 favourite Champagne James.