Hereford: Bennys King bounces back to form to provide teenage jockey with first winner under rules

Bennys King emphatically bounced back to form to cause a 20-1 shock in the 2m5f hunter chase and provide Heidi Palin with a memorable first win under rules.

The 19-year-old did well to retain the partnership with the Dan Skelton-trained 12-year-old when the amateur rider was nearly unseated from the veteran at the third fence, but the pair recovered from that mistake to fend off the challenge of the Paul Nicholls-trained Magic Saint.

Bennys King had been pulled up on his last four starts including at Chepstow last month but relished the return to the same trip as when he finished third in Grade 1 Ascot Chase in 2021.

Palin, whose landmark success came from just her third ride under rules, said: “Bennys travelled through the race nicely. He’s gone to the second circuit and I’ve just gone after him a bit and he’s galloped on nicely to the line. I’m very thankful for all the help from Dan, Harry [Skelton], Bridget [Andrews] and everyone at home and to Nick Pearce for helping me gain more experience with the pointers. They’re always wanting me to do better." 

Palin, who has also ridden three point-to-point winners, added: “I’m looking forward to the future now and hopefully will get a few more winners."

Although narrowly denied by Bennys King, Nicholls did not leave the card empty-handed as Half Dozen made a winning handicap debut under Harry Cobden.

Brave backs up win

Atlanta Brave holds entries for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and warmed up for a potential Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 assignment by justifying odds-on favouritism in the opening 2m5½f novice hurdle. Richard Patrick helped the Kerry Lee-trained five-year-old follow up a win at Chepstow this month under a penalty.

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