Walsh returns to actionin treble-winning style

Ruby Walsh returned to action in great style at Fairyhouse yesterday when landing a treble.

The champion jockey had ruled himself out of action on Sunday following a fall at Wincanton the previous day but was back to his brilliant best to score on Bobs Pride, Mr Aussie and Chicago Vic.

Bobs Pride is set to be stepped up to Grade One company following a hard-earned victory in the St Margarets Novice Hurdle. Dermot Weld's charge was produced to lead at the last by Walsh but had to survive a mistake before going on to hold the late challenge of Davorin by a length.

"It was a good workmanlike performance. The ground was more testing than he would like," said Weld.

"The Royal Bond Novice Hurdle back here (December 3rd) will most likely be his next race and we'll take it from there," added the Curragh trainer.

Mr Aussie is set to go over fences after a game staying performance in the Clover Hill Hurdle. Francis Flood's gelding jumped into the lead two out, under Walsh, and kept on strongly to hold the late challenge of Chosen Man by a length and a quarter.

"He seems to stay well and fences are the job for him," said Flood.

Chicago Vic gained a deserved success over fences when claiming the Kilbrew Mares Beginners Chase. Walsh sent her on before the second last and she stayed on well to score by four and a half lengths from Lovely Present.

"She was entitled to that," said winning trainer Eric McNamara. "She has been placed in a few mares' chases.

"She is just a bit small and finds big fences tough. She was the best mare in the race and her class got her through.

"She'll go to Clonmel next Thursday for a Listed mares race there."

The Royal Dub (5 to 2 - 6 to 4) was well backed in the second division of the Rathbeggan Handicap Hurdle but looked held in fourth before the last.

However, Paul Carberry conjured a storming late run from Tony Martin's charge to get up close home for a two-and-a-half-length victory over Another Notice.

It was a similar story in the two-mile Culmullin Handicap Hurdle with Scalini's snatching the spoils close home for father and son team 'Boots' and 'Slippers' Madden.

Wanango and Justpourit had it between them from before the second last in the Herbertstown Novice Chase with the former finding extra close home to score by three-parts of a length.

Pirates Punch (100 to 30) justified favouritism when leading after the last to score in the first division of the Rathbeggan Handicap Hurdle.

n Dual champion hurdler Hardy Eustace is more likely to reappear in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown next week than take up an engagement in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

Dessie Hughes's nine-year-old relinquished his crown to Brave Inca at the Cheltenham Festival in March but ran a fine race to finish third.

He then chased home Asian Maze over two and a half miles at Aintree before finishing third behind Macs Joy at the Punchestown Festival.

Hardy Eustace recently had a spin on the level and finished a respectable sixth behind current Triumph Hurdle favourite Lounaos at the Curragh.

"He is a possible runner at the weekend but we might keep him for the following week - the Morgiana at Punchestown," said Hughes.

"He's a year older now and he seems to be taking more work than he did before to get him fit.

"I feel he could do with another bit of work before Saturday so he might bypass that.

"The aim for him again will be the Champion Hurdle. He ran a fine race in the Champion last year but he had gone over the top by the time he ran at Punchestown because he had a hard race behind Asian Maze at Liverpool.

"If he runs well in the Morgiana it is possible that he will run in the Bula (Boylesports International) at Cheltenham (December 9th). It's looking like a hot race but it is a good prize," he said.