Benruben
Benruben probably would have won the Listed Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase over 2m 2f had he not come down at the final fence. It was only a four-horse race, and Jetz made a bad mistake early on, from which Paul Townend did well to recover, and Duca De Thaix under-performed, but Cubomania is a good horse, a 142-rated horse, and it looked like Benruben was coming to take his measure when he came down.
John Nicholson's horse had travelled well through his race for Mark Enright, and his rider had delivered him with what looked like a race-winning challenge on the run to the last. He probably picked up just in front, but he got in tight to the fence, clipped the top of it, and came down.
Benruben hasn't won over fences yet, but this was just his fourth attempt, and he has been keeping good company. He finished behind Cilaos Emery and Duc Des Genievres in a beginners' chase at Gowran Park on Thyestes Chase day on his chasing bow. Then he went to Thurles and finished second behind Ex Patriot, before finishing second again behind Jetz in the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Chase at Navan, when he had Duca De Thaix well behind him in third. He is only six, he has raced just seven times under Rules in his life and just four times over fences, and there should be more to come.
Thurles, 23rd March 2019
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