DE BENNO made every yard of the running to win the valuable Grade B Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick on Wednesday.

On what was a red-letter day for his 7lb claiming jockey Cathal Landers, who enjoyed a double, the grey never saw another rival.

The 12-year-old has been in good heart of late but appeared to face a stiff task up in grade, despite a low weight. However, Landers filled him with confidence and De Benno (11/1) jumped great throughout, providing owner/trainer James Grace with a notable success.

"He's getting better as he is getting older. Every other year he'd go wrong and he's had an awful lot of problems but, touch wood, he seems to be tipping away recently," said Grace.

"He could go for the Dan Moore Chase in January next – it depends on what the handicapper does to him, though. He'll probably run if he gets into the handicap.

"We could also give him a run in a hurdle race as he's rated much lower over fences.

"That's my first graded win as a trainer but I've had some good winners trained by Noel Meade. I've four horses in training and it's a hobby, but it's still nice to make a few quid out of it!"

Landers had earlier won the Roches Feeds Handicap Hurdle on Allez Kal (13/2) for James Barcoe.

BIG FUTURE

Crackerdancer (13/8) looks a mare with a big future after her all-the-way success in the 'David Fitzgerald - Take It Easee' Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Ray Hackett's seven-year-old won a listed bumper last time out and looks a smart prospect.

"She was good and I was very impressed. She is maybe too brave at times, she'll have a cut if you let her and, in fairness, Eoin (O'Brien) gave her a great ride," said Hackett.

"She was having a good look around over the first few and hopefully will improve a good bit from it, which would be great.

"I think we'd have to look at the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham now – I don't see why not. She's not a mudlark, and if there's ease in it (ground) she's fine. If there's any juice at all, she'll be fine but you wouldn't like to chance her on really quick ground.

"There's a mares' novice hurdle for her next at Fairyhouse on the second week in February and after that, we'll let Patsy and Sharon (O'Brien, owners) decide on Cheltenham."

Willie Mullins' Sympa Des Flos (6/4 favourite) finally got his head in front in the Goggin Buckley Maiden Hurdle after a string of seconds.

READ THE FULL LIMERICK REPORT IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD