Kemboy and Paul Townend © Photo Healy Racing
The Willie Mullins-trained Kemboy bounced back to winning ways when making all to land the Tote Fantasy Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse this afternoon.
The four time Grade 1 winner was sent to post 15/8 favourite for the extended three-mile-one contest and jumped well at the head of affairs for Paul Townend.
He got close two from home but was big and bold at the last as he knuckled down to secure a half length win over the staying on Vanillier in the Grade 3 contest.
It was a first win in over two years for the 11-year-old with his last victory coming in the 2021 Irish Gold Cup.
It was yet another win in the race for Mullins taking his record to 10 of the last 13 runnings and he said:- “That was good, I thought a drop in grade at this stage of his career was probably no harm.
“He was careful at some of his jumps and then got some really good jumps. He jumped well when it mattered over the last.
“The dry conditions were a huge help to him. I might try and pick out another race like that. The (Grade 3) Imperial Call Chase at Cork (April 9th) might be a possible.
“The Aintree Bowl is a possibility but you are running up against Grade 1 horses there and we might be as well off keeping below the radar. That's his first win for two years and I'd prefer to keep him in a lower grade at his age and be competitive.
“Then we could try and finish up at Punchestown where he had a great day with Ruby Walsh, if he could roll back the years maybe he could do it again.”
