Bruce does it for the locals at Thurles

Bubbly Bruce ran out a very popular winner of the concluding Rockview (Q.R.) Flat Race, scoring by seven lengths for trainer Billy Harney and rider Damien Skehan.

For Skehan from Thurles this was a particularly momentous occasion as it was his first success on the racecourse proper. He is 27 and has six point-to-point winners under his belt. He rides out for Leslie Young and many will remember a picture of him in Formcard's Point-to-Point Review, partnering Abbey Road to victory at Kilfeacle in 2001 without the aid of stirrups.

Bubbly Bruce was much too strong in the final furlong for the even money favourite, Octavin

Harney said afterwards: "I hate to run them in too many bumpers but we might get greedy, we'll see. This fellow would jump out of jail."