Benbaun looked to have put his stamp on the race when edging past the Tracey Collins-trained runner-up at the furlong pole, but the 11-10 favourite rallied gamely to push him all the way to the line.

While Dandy Man seemed to be getting back at the winner, he still had a head to make up as the pair flashed past the post.

The Dandy Nicholls-trained Moss Vale ran his usual honest race to take fourth at odds of 4-1.

“He just loves this place and has won five from eight and been second on the other three occasions he’s run here,” said Mark Hillen, co-owner of the winner.

“It was a fair performance to give Dandy Man 3lb in those conditions. He wants top of the ground and, because of the rain, we were very close to pulling him out today.”

Winning jockey Pat Smullen added: “He’s a very genuine, top-class sprinter, and he proved that there.”