Racing: Benefit for Dunwoody

ADRIAN MAGUIRE, whose lead in the jump jockeys' title race was more than 40 only six weeks ago, had three seconds from four rides in a frustrating afternoon at Folkestone yesterday while Richard Dunwoody scored a double at Southwell. Maguire's lead has now been cut to just three.

Two odds-on chances, 4-9 favourite Nawar and 4-5 shot Googly, were among Maguire's failures. Dunwoody reached the 117 mark for the season with his victories. Allegation was 8-13 but the champion's other success was all-the-way winner Mutual Benefit at 6-1.

Mutual Benefit ended a 168- day drought for owner-trainer Terry Casey. 'I've had a desperate season,' the Irishman, whose Lambourn yard is up for sale, said. The stewards inquired into the improvement in the horse's form compared to his previous run, when beaten 87 lengths, but accepted Casey's explanations that the Lingfield effort was his third in quick succession and that the slower Southwell surface suited him better.

The meeting claimed two fatalities with 13-year-old Red Columbia, a four-time course winner, being killed when falling at the fourth hurdle. For Heaven's Sake broke his neck, again at the fourth, in the next race.