Benalex Park scores for Connor King© Photo Healy Racing
Benalex Park went into a good few notebooks when unlucky in running on his reappearance at Leopardstown earlier this month, and duly rewarded strong support in division two of the mile handicap at Gowran Park.
John Murphy’s charge was available at 6/1 in the morning and attracted further support on track from 4/1 down to 5/2 favourite.
Connor King, partnering his fourth winner and his first as a 7lb claimer, gave the four-year-old gelding a strong drive leading inside the furlong furlong to beat the always prominent Daigreen (14/1) by three quarters of a length. Busalla (16/1) kept on another half-length away in third.
Murphy said, “Seamie said he was very unlucky at Leopardstown when he got boxed in on the rail. He ran a real good race there.
“I’ve been very impressed with Connor King all year, and he looks a very good rider. He gave him a beautiful patient ride, and was there at the right time.
“Connor said he thought he might stay a bit further, and some of the lads at home have been saying he might get a mile and a furlong.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
