Bob defies penalty in Novice Hurdle

Boston Bob made light of conditions when giving weight to each of his opponents in the Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle.

Carrying the colours of Graham Wylie, the 9-4 favourite defied a Grade One penalty in tremendous style.

Boston Bob stormed into the lead before the final flight to score by two and a quarter lengths from Lyreen Legend, with the winner's stablemate Make Your Mark third.

The seven-year-old was completing a big-race double for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh after the success of Hurricane Fly in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle.

Mullins said: "There was a day we galloped a few at Thurles some time ago - horses we thought were top horses.

"One of the young lads in the yard was riding Boston Bob and he came through the other horses going easily and we thought that day we had a racehorse.

"I thought he had the size and scope to carry today's penalty but three out I wasn't so sure!

"Ruby said he hated the ground and his pedigree says he should go on better ground.

"He looks a big, strong chaser and we look forward to him going chasing next season. He could have gone chasing this season but we just decided to go through the motions over hurdles for now and it has taught him to race.

"I imagine he will go for the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham but we'll see what happens after the Deloitte Novice Hurdle on 12 February and where I go with my other horses.

"I imagine Ruby will ride him wherever he goes."