Three times a winner 'between the flags,' Benalma caused a 33/1 shock in the Trim Beginners Chase, putting up a bold front-running sound-jumping display to beat the 8/11 favourite, Captain Conflict by a neck.
Andrew McNamara rode the son of Beneficial for Galway handler Pauline Gavin. The runner-up jumped to his right throughout and he was a reluctant partner for Paul Townend on the run-in.
Mrs Gavin said: "He won three point-to-points but nothing went right for him over hurdles last year as my horses weren't right. He'll probably go now for a novice at Fairyhouse and he would like better ground."
Pauline's daughter Sarah trained her first winner lately at Belharbour point-to-point, an event which saw Pauline train the second. Ad Idem beat Forgotten Symphony there in the Colm Gavin (Pauline's husband) silks.
Benalma also carries those purple and white colours of the well-known Galway solicitor. (EM)
