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Battling Bob defies weight
Boston Bob made light of the gruelling conditions when giving weight to each of his opponents in the Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Carrying the colours of Graham Wylie, the 9-4 favourite defied a Grade One penalty in tremendous style to pick up the Grade Two event.
Boston Bob stormed into the lead before the final flight to score by two and a quarter lengths from Lyreen Legend, who had slipped into a clear advantage in the straight, with the winner's stablemate Make Your Mark third.
The seven-year-old was completing a big-race double for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh after the success of Hurricane Fly in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle.
Mullins said: "There was a day we galloped a few at Thurles some time ago - horses we thought were top horses. One of the young lads in the yard was riding Boston Bob and he came through the other horses going easily and we thought that day we had a racehorse.
"I thought he had the size and scope to carry today's penalty, but three out I wasn't so sure! Ruby said he hated the ground and his pedigree says he should go on better ground.
"He looks a big, strong chaser and we look forward to him going chasing next season. He could have gone chasing this season but we just decided to go through the motions over hurdles for now and it has taught him to race.
"I imagine he will go for the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, but we'll see what happens after the Deloitte Novice Hurdle on February 12 and where I go with my other horses. I imagine Ruby will ride him wherever he goes."
Jessica Harrington enjoyed her third win of the weekend when taking the Frank Conroy Memorial Maiden Hurdle with Burn And Turn (100-30), who jumped ahead at the final flight and surged two and three-quarter lengths clear under Robbie Power. She could step up for the Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle on February 12.
Second past the post Double Double was disqualified and placed last after jockey Andrew McNamara failed to weigh in. He was banned for five days.
