Kates Benefit and Danny Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
Kates Benefit cruised around to make light work of opening her account over fences in the mares beginners chase at Gowran Park.
Ken Budds' charge looked a different class on paper in the 2m2f contest and so it proved as she made all for a four-and-three-quarter length victory.
Danny Mullins never had a moment's worry as the Beneficial mare proved foot perfect throughout and she had her rivals struggling before the turn for home.
Ellaway Rose came through to claim the runner-up spot in the straight but had no chance of pegging back the facile winner.
The 4/7 favourite was making her fourth start over fences and has kept good company before today. She was narrowly denied in a hot Grade 3 contest at Cork before Christmas.
“She deserved that and I would have been disappointed if she hadn't done it as easily as that,” said Budds.
“Ground permitting we'll look for a graded chase for her. This is her kind of trip and she seems better on soft or heavy ground.”
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
