In Thurles yesterday, with Heavy ground conditions underfoot, See U Bob, racing in the distinctive colours of the Ivan Yates-led Celtic Bookmakers, defied the Willie Mullins-trained Kempes (red & white, pictured above) and claimed the €8,638 first prize in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F Beginners Chase.
See U Bob, ridden by Alain "Squeaky" Cawley travelled well throughout, he settled nicely along the home straight where Cawley briefly ruffled the reigns two fences out, See U Bob responded gamely and out-jumped Kempes at the last fence before scoring by a comfortable 2 1/2 lengths.
The Paul Nolan trained Gelding finished at 4-1, drifting slightly from an opening show of 7-2. There was solid support throughout for Ruby Walsh's Kempes who hardened at one point in the betting into 3-10 from morning prices of 4-9. Kempes travelled strongly throughout but a mistake in the home straight resulted in him being niggled along before going down a beaten second, still however there was left 11 lengths of daylight to the third placed horse, Becolark.
Nolan said afterward of See U Bob "Hopefully he can now step up a grade" and was adamant that the 7 year old gelding was performing better over fences than hurdles. In what was his first start over the larger obstacles for the son of Bob Back.
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