Norman Williamson maintained his enviable strike rate in the top chases this season when Bob Treacy bounced back to form in the Cuisine de France Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park yesterday. Pulled up after jumping poorly in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown last month, the 8 to 1 chance defied top weight under a positive ride from Williamson in a race in which four of his rivals suffered from a ragged start.
Always close to the pace, Williamson's mount took over from the weakening Pinkpinkfizz turning for home and kept on to score by two lengths from The Quads with Emerald Gale three and a half lengths back in third.
"The horse wasn't right at Leopardstown," revealed ownerpermit holder Michael Hickey. "But if he is okay after this he will probably take his chance in the Hennessy Gold Cup on Sunday week."
Now the winner of six races, Bob Treacy showed plenty of determination to land yesterday's £22,662 first prize.
"This is my first win in the Thyestes and it was a relief to get it right," said Williamson. "I was keen to have another crack at a good prize on the horse after he ran so well for me behind Imperial Call and Dorans Pride at Punchestown in early December." British-based Brendan Powell, who made the trip to Ireland for the mount on Hollybank Buck, was one of the main sufferers in the untidy start. The stewards referred the poor start and the circumstances surrounding it to the Turf Club for further investigation.
"Four of us were left behind when the starter let them go," remarked Powell. "And I'm only sorry now I bothered going after them because I was the best part of 100 yards adrift at the first. But you think over three miles in that ground you'd have a chance, though I only ever got into mid-division."
Powell and four trainers Tony Martin (Hollybank Buck), Tom Taaffe (Pinkpinkfizz), Michael Cunningham (Brian's Delight) and Eric McNamara (Kaselectric) protested to the local officials before the matter was referred.
The 1996 Cheltenham Festival Bumper winner Wither Or Which made a belated return as the evenmoney favourite for the Stallion Owners' Maiden Hurdle. However, it was not an auspicious jumping debut as David Casey's mount tired in the holding ground and faded as Swift Flame gave 21-year-old Shane McCann his first winner for local trainer Sean Treacy.
