Luke’s Benefit aims for four-in-a-row at Punchestown

The remarkable grey Luke’s Benefit will attempt to win the punchestown.com Handicap Chase at the Co Kildare track for the fourth year in a row today.

The Denis Hogan-trained 12-year-old will be partnered by regular pilot Brian Cawley who has won five times on the son of Beneficial, including the last two renewals of this contest.

Luke’s Benefit was a slow starter. He was three and a half years in training before his first success in a handicap hurdle at Limerick in November 2011 on his 12th racecourse outing.

The grey faces stiff opposition from two recent Limerick runner-ups, Frederici and Heavenly Brook.

Meanwhile, Champagne Fever could drop back in trip after finishing fourth to Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Silviniaco Conti in the King George VI Chase over three miles at Kempton.

Trainer Willie Mullins is likely to look at the Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles as part of his options for the grey, who has a tremendous record at Cheltenham.