Bob scores as Kempes hit the bar

Thurles' all chase six-race card began with 1/3 favourite Kempes being overturned by second favourite and one time conqueror of Go Native, See U Bob in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.

Ridden by Alain Cawley, See U Bob raced in mid-division before progressing from the third last fence, where market leader Kempes lost ground with a slow jump. See U Bob moved to the front after the second last fence and battled gamely on the run-in to defeat Kempes by two and a half lengths.

Afterwards winning trainer Paul Nolan reported “See U Bob always made a nice 'shape' over a fence and is a decent horse when he's on song. However he had two ways of running over hurdles and either won or ran horrendously! Hopefully he can now step up in grade.”

The win was See U Bob's fifth career success, the first of which was gained in a Cork bumper in April '08, where top hurdler Go Native was an eight lengths second.