Treble Bob returns to top form with resounding victory

That tough old gunslinger Treble Bob roared back into town with a resounding success in yesterday's Guinness Kerry National at Listowel.

Dermot Weld's teak-tough gelding has made a career habit of winning under maximum pressure from his riders in the past. Those wins included a Leopardstown November Handicap and a Punchestown championship hurdle but after a period in the doldrums Treble Bob returned to top form yesterday with his easiest ever big race success.

After a furiously run three miles, Treble Bob finished a full distance clear of Oakler with Lucky Town third and the early pacesetter Persian Life fourth. Shay Barry was having his first ride for Weld, on the recommendation of one of Treble Bob's former riders Brendan Sheridan, and he and Treble Bob immediately gelled.

"Mr Weld told me that if the horse was in contention at the fourth last then he would take some beating," said Barry who was topping a successful year already highlighted with successes in the Thyestes Chase and the Galway Hurdle.

Treble Bob not only was in contention at the fourth last but he took over the lead. It was a lead he never looked like giving up because Persian Life had set such a pace from the third fence that most of the field had been burned off. Lucky Town stayed on to be third but the well-backed favourite Amlah was only seventh. "It was a two mile pace and he was never travelling well enough," said Amlah's rider Brendan Powell.

Treble Bob thrived on it, however, and has rarely travelled better in a race. "He's a super horse and is right back where he belongs - at the top," said Weld's son, Mark. Dermot Weld was not at the meeting but from his home he commented: "He won't run again over fences until Christmas and could run again in the November Handicap."

Charlie Swan sent out his third winner as a trainer when Oonagh's Star, who he also rode, proved too strong for Super High in the closing stages of the Schering-Plough Hurdle. The winner's main market rival Snow Dragon was under pressure from four out and finished a distant fifth.

Dunrally Fort got up in the very last stride to short-head Willyever in the mile handicap and there was another close finish to the Mulvaney Handicap Chase when Adrian Maguire kept Willie Burke's Boots N All going on the run in to beat Royal Ziero and Little-K in a finish of necks.

The Dell justified favouritism in the bumper when coming with a sustained run in the straight and Just Wondering had an all-the-way success in the opener.

Almost £1.5 million was bet at Listowel yesterday. Bookmaker turnover was up by over £250,000 to £1,085,351 while there was a course record Tote aggregate of £364,366.