Bobs Worth, red cap, tracks First Lieutenant in the Lexus© Photo Healy Racing
< Bobs Worth returned to his superb best with a thrilling victory in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown for the Nicky Henderson stable.
Sent off the 11-4 joint-favourite after flopping on his return to action at Haydock last month, the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was never far away as Rubi Ball and the bold-jumping First Lieutenant did most of the donkey work in the Grade One contest.
Those two were still in front at the final fence, but Bobs Worth swept past them in remorseless style on the run-in under Barry Geraghty to win by a length and a half, with First Lieutenant a gallant second.< Zaidpour landed the third Grade One victory of his career when he stepped up on last season's second place to win the woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle.
Only four went to post with the late withdrawal of Solwhit, and Ruby Walsh was content to sit last of the quartet on Willie Mullins' 5-4 favourite for much of the three-mile trip as Whatuthink took them along.< Rule The World and Mala Beach jumped the last together in front, but Zaidpour was breathing down their necks and produced a smart turn of foot to motor past on the run-in to beat the former by four and a quarter lengths.
The jockey and trainer landed a treble begun when 5-2 favourite Sure Reef who unseated at the first on his jumps debut, scored a ready victory in the Madigans Maiden Hurdle, travelling nicely up to the lead at the final flight and forging three and a quarter lengths clear.
Then Djakadam (11-8 favourite) found plenty on the run-in to see off Si C'Etait Vrai by a length and a quarter in the Ballymaloe Country Relish Beginners Chase.
Geraghty produced Dysios (8-1) at the final flight to take the Star Best For Racing Christmas Rated Hurdle by two lengths, while Courage (14-1) wore down Seefood on the run-in to take the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle qualifier by three-quarters of a length under David Casey.
