Benemeade hangs on in bumper

Just three days before she saddles her first runner since being granted a trainer’s licence, Nina Carberry was on the mark when partnering the Noel Meade-trained Benemeade to victory in yesterday’s bumper in Downpatrick, the Ballyalton Flat Race.

Always close to the pace, the 9/4 favourite edged ahead on the home turn and looked set to score convincingly before being repressed by The Job Is Right and Bally Longford, hanging on by three-quarters of a length and a head.

“He’s a horse I like,” said winning trainer Meade, forced to rule Monksland out of Cheltenham, “We ran into a good one in Fairyhouse and, after missing out in two bumpers, you always wonder about going again. He idled a bit in front, but likes good ground. We’ll give him a break before returning in the summer.”