Sport

Bobs shows his true Worth with Lexus win

BOBS Worth got back on track after a below-par run on his seasonal debut to land the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Winner of last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, Bobs Worth (right) could finish only sixth behind Cue Card in the Betfair Chase at Haydock but Nicky Henderson felt the course was too sharp for him.

The champion trainer was convinced Leopardstown would be more suitable, although he was concerned about the ground, but he was vindicated as the eight-year-old showed once again he is a top-class staying chaser.

First Lieutenant jumped the last in the lead but Bobs Worth (11/4 joint-favourite with Sir Des Champs) found plenty for Barry Geraghty on the run in to win by a length-and-a-half, with Rubi Ball back in third.

The victory put Bobs Worth right back into the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup reckoning, with Paddy Power making him the 5/2 favourite to retain his title.

"I would have given anything to take him out two days ago. With the ground and the weather, I wasn't that happy with him, but the horse never stops surprising you," said Henderson.

"You have to be handier round here than you would normally be. When I saw Barry angle him out, I said to myself obviously he thinks he'll get there. We all know he finishes his races, except of course for Haydock.

"It's only five or six weeks since he got thumped into the ground there, so to come back from that is great.

"I wanted to wait for the Argento Chase (at Cheltenham on January 25) but Barry was keen to come here. He believed he would get better ground here than anywhere in England.

"If we waited for the Argento and it turned up heavy, we'd only have five or six weeks before Cheltenham. This was the right race for him but conditions weren't perfect.

"He picked himself up after a horror run and put himself back at the front of the ball game. We know he loves Cheltenham.

"He had a hard race there and whether he runs again or not (before the Gold Cup), I don't know, but my gut says no.

"We came here hoping he would run respectably and to win is a bonus. After Haydock, it's great to get him back."

Geraghty said: "He's brilliant, he's got great heart.

"He didn't get his ground in the Gold Cup and he showed his pace today. He's a better horse on good ground.

"He had reasons for his defeat in Haydock. I couldn't see that many reasons why he would get beaten today."