O'Sullivan hoping for Troytown benefit

Benefit Night makes his first appearance of the season in Sunday’s williamhill.ie Troytown Handicap Chase in what could be the beginning of an exciting campaign.

From the mainly point-to-point Co Cork yard of Danny O’Sullivan, the seven-year-old proved to be fiercely progressive last term, winning four of five starts and rising almost 50lb in the ratings.

One of those victories was also at Grade Two level in the Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase at Naas in February.

“He’ll run on Sunday and did very well over the summer – he’s got a lot stronger,” explained O’Sullivan.

“This will be his first run back and he’ll probably improve a little bit for it. He’s gone up a fair few pounds in the weights and it’s his first run in a competitive handicap so we’ll see how he gets on.

“Stepping back to three miles from two and a half on bottomless ground last season will not be a problem as he is a real stayer. If he keeps improving, he could be anything and I have him entered in the Welsh National later on in the year.”

Plenty of other interesting runners are in the Troytown at this stage including former Hennessy winner Strong Flow, who shaped well on his first run for Dessie Hughes, and the long-absent but potentially smart Afistfullofdollars.