Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs back with a bang at Thurles

Former Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs made a successful return to action after 691 days on the sidelines, when delivered with a well-timed challenge to land the Listed Boomerang Horse & Country Store Chase yesterday afternoon at Thurles.

Easy to back in light of substantial support for Mala Beach, Bryan Cooper rode a very patient ride on the returning two-time Cheltenham Festival winner as Rubi Light set off at a decent gallop, gradually building a substantial advantage over the field.

That lead looked all the more significant when Mala Beach crashed out at the ninth, and he still looked to be in command as he turned for home in isolation.