Snugsborough Benny

Snugsborough Benny ran a big race to finish fourth in the Irish Grand National. Settled towards the rear of the field early on by Denis O’Regan, he hunted around nicely for a circuit, and he was stone last when they jumped the last fence on the first circuit with a circuit to run.

It was a race in which you probably didn’t want to be too far off the pace. Five of the first six home were fairly handy from flagfall. Snugsborough Benny was the only horse who got close from off the pace.

He started to make ground as they raced down the side of the track. He wasn’t helped by a mistake at the third of the fences on that part of the track, but he was quickly back on the bridle and passing horses. About 10th as they raced across the top of the track, he came under pressure from the fifth last fence. Still only ninth as they jumped the last fence before the home straight, he stayed on well for pressure from there. He couldn’t get close to the front three, but he kept on well enough to get past Bellow Mome for fourth.

It was a fine run from Liam Cusack’s horse, competing, as he was, off a handicap rating of 145, 9lb higher than the mark off which he won a handicap chase at Fairyhouse in February, when he beat Call It Magic and Measureofmydreams. He is nine years old but that was just his 10th run over fences. He could be a horse for the Aintree Grand National next year, all going well. The handicapper dropped him by 1lb to a mark of 144 and that is a fair mark.

Fairyhouse, 22^nd April 2019