WHITSBURY trainer Paul Henderson made a rousing start to 2015 with a New Year's Day victory from Alright Benny at Fakenham.

Pulled up at Plumpton barely a fortnight earlier, the 12- year-old regained his sparkle under stable amateur Gordon Treacy to land the 2m5½f handicap chase by three lengths from Icy Colt, the only other finisher in the four-way contest on the Norfolk course.

It was a 10th winner of the National Hunt season for Henderson who said: “The race went Benny's way because he likes making the running and two others came down leaving him in the lead near halfway.”

Alright Benny – owned by The Affordable Partnership – has now won three times and been second twice in his last six starts.