Bob takes the feature at Limerick

The feature race of the evening at Limerick, the Listed Martin Molony Stakes, produced the first winning favourite, as the consistent Bob Le Beau ran out a game winner under Fran Berry for trainer Jessica Harrington.

On what was his fourth start of 2011 the son of Big Bad Bob was recording his second win of the year, having scored on his penultimate start at the Curragh, before finishing second on his last run at the same venue in the Listed Silver Stakes behind Viscount Nelson.

The 5/4 winning favourite challenged the leader and eventual runner-up Unity (9/1) two furlongs from home. He then soon hit the front and stayed on well to hold off Unity's game challenge by a length. Zerashan ran on well to take third a further three parts of a length behind at 7/1 for Mick Halford and Gary Carroll.

The runner-up Unity, lost a shoe on the way to the start and had to be reshod before the start, as a result there was a twelve minute delay before they were sent off.

Winning trainer Jessica Harrington was absent for the win but winning jockey Fran Berry said afterwards: “He did it well. The ground was a worry, but he picked up well. He idled a bit in front but it was a good performance. The further he goes the better he will be.”