Three days after Christmas comes one of Ireland’s premier race outings, the Lexus Chase. And it is former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth who is looking to get back to his winning ways by hoping to secure a victorious win at the event. But heading across the line ahead of the stiff competition won’t be as easy as usually expected for this experienced runner who has taken a slight dip in form in recent times. There is a lot of work involved in getting this star horse back to his best for when he faces his next challenge in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown.
Bobs Worth is the current Lexus Chase reigning champion and holding on to his title is more important now than ever. Ending the year with a win will be a huge boost for the thoroughbred winner who only managed a paltry fifth placing at this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, which was unexpectedly won by the underestimated Lord Windermere. And so there is no better time to pick up a fresh victory to help give the trainer, runner and racer some much needed confidence.
Earlier in the year racing trainer Nicky Henderson was a little concerned about the runner and getting him back in shape as a top class challenger. But it seems the racehorse is finally firmly on course for the famed Leopardstown chase on Sunday 28th December. Bobs Worth has been training alongside Sprinter Sacre and Henderson has said to have been delighted with the results.
Bobs Worth is among the favourites with the bookies to triumph at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March 2015, along with current champion Lord Windermere and contender Silviniaco Conti. All three of the challengers are currently 10/1 odds-on to pick up the title and will have to battle it out fiercely, leaping fences and fighting for every single furlong to take them striding home and across that winning line.
The horse himself has already ramped up an impressive number of past titles and achievements including the Cheltenham RSA Chase and the Newbury hosted Hennessy Gold Cup both won back in 2012. The following year he followed up by crossing the winning post at the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup and at last year’s Lexus Chase. He’s certainly an experienced runner and with another title under his belt will be a formidable racer once more at next spring’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.