Claiming Benefits (nearest) jumps the last just ahead of A Decent Excuse© Photo Healy Racing
Frenchman Maxime Denuault got A Decent Excuse up in the nick of time, as he took the Fegentri World Championship (QR) Handicap Hurdle for trainer Eugene O’Sullivan.
A winner of a handicap chase at Thurles on his penultimate start, the seven-year-old son of Fruits Of Love pulled up on his last outing, and he was sent off a 10/1 chance for this two mile three furlong contest. Claiming Benefits (6/1), under Gerry Mangan for Ronald O’Leary, hit the front after two out, and he was still in the lead after the last, however he was just reeled in as they approached the line, with Denuault pushing out A Decent Excuse to score by half a length. Provincial Pride finished a further six and a half lengths back in third under Jane Mangan for her father Jimmy at 7/1, while Hard Bought was another two and a quarter lengths back in fourth under Ambrose McCurtin for John Joe Walsh also at 7/1.
Vision De Coeur was sent off the 9/2 favourite under Johnny Burke for Francis Flood, but he could only manage fifth.
Denuault said afterwards: "This is my first time riding in Ireland. I’ve had thirty winners in France, and I’m from Paris and I work for my father Gui who is a trainer."
Eugene O’Sullivan added: “He will go to Killarney now for a 2m 6f Handicap Chase. He had a lot of weight today but we knew he was right.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
