Majordomo Hospitality Chase
Handicap, Cheltenham 14:10 £45,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 1½f, Grade 3
Friday 12th December 2014

1 Benbane Head 16/1
2 The Ould Lad 4/1F
3 Cowards Close 9/2
10 ran Distances: 9l, 2¼l, 2¼l
TIME 6m 47.10s

Benbane Head toughs it out tin the Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase to turn over 4-1 favourite The Ould Lad

Benbane Head
© Grossick Racing Photography

Local trainer Martin Keighley's charge gained compensation for his last start seven days ago, when Richard Johnson took the wrong course, incurring a 12-day ban in the process.

At the head of affairs throughout under Conor Shoemark, the result was never really in much doubt as the 16-1 shot beat 4-1 favourite The Ould Lad by nine lengths.

Keighley said: "He stays so well that I thought four miles at Exeter was perfect for him, but he wouldn't have run in this if he'd finished last week.

"I'm not sure what's been wrong with the horses, all the tests have been clean, but they've been running below our expectations. It's great for the owner that he's won another race and I hope this signals a return to better things."

Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
£45,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 1f 110y, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good to Soft

Pos	Dist	Horse / Jockey	Weight	Trainer	Age
1st		Benbane Head (USA) 16/1 Conor Shoemark (3)	10-0	M Keighley	10
2nd	9	The Ould Lad (IRE) (ex5) 4/1f P J Brennan	10-0	T R George	6
3rd	2¼	Cowards Close (IRE) 9/2 S Twiston-Davies	10-0	P F Nicholls	7
4th	2¼	Charingworth (IRE) 7/1 Mr H A A Bannister (5)	10-7	K C Bailey	11
5th	4	Pigeon Island 16/1 Sean Bowen (7)	10-0	N A Twiston-Davies	11
6th	17	Hadrian's Approach (IRE) 6/1 B J Geraghty	11-12	N J Henderson	7
7th	19	Lamb Or Cod (IRE) 10/1 R Johnson	11-0	P J Hobbs	7
8th	7	Samstown 8/1 B Hughes	10-9	A C Whillans	7
PU		Shattered Dream (IRE) 16/1 Aidan Coleman	10-0	Miss V Williams	6
F		Standing Ovation (IRE) 11/1 T Scudamore	10-4	D Pipe	7