Bob Olinger is back

Rachael Blackmore leads the way with the ultimate comeback king, while an 11/2 shot provides Ben Jones with his first Cheltenham winner

- LUCY ELDER

BOB OLINGER proved he is firmly back on track after he “lost his way” over fences by taking the Grade Two Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle in formidable style.

Brian Acheson’s nine-yearold, unbeaten on all three starts at Cheltenham, consolidated his winning seasonal debut at Navan with a blistering performance over the bijou field at Prestbury Park.

Jockey Rachael Blackmore made her move ahead of the final flight, with Bob Olinger responding – zipping into the gap up the stands rail and powering away to score by seven lengths over 2023 winner Marie’s Rock.

“He never excelled as we thought he would over fences, so being back over hurdles is bringing out the best in him again,” said Blackmore.

“It’s great to get him back and finishing in that manner. He’s always been a horse we’ve thought so much of, so to win like that was brilliant.”

Robbie Power, race planner for winning trainer Henry de Bromhead, echoed Blackmore’s thoughts and added that Aintree is likely to be his target.

“He didn’t really take to chasing and the decision was made to stick to hurdles and to see if we could get him back to his best,” said Power.

Connections discovered a muscular issue last January, and it is a testament to the horsemanship of those around him that they were able to rehabilitate him physically – and mentally – back to star performer level.