Longer trip will favour Freds Benefit

WILLIE Mullins, second in the trainers’ championship behind Noel Meade with 39 winners, has prospects of a double at Gowran Park this afternoon with Freds Benefit and Franklins Trail.

Both horses can be expected to improve plenty for their initial outings of the campaign and Freds Benefit gets the nap in the Porters’ Saddlery Maiden Hurdle.

Winner of a Punchestown bumper by 15 lengths back in February, the lightly-race five-year-old made a good start over jumps at Limerick last month.