BOB SUFFERS SURPRISE DEFEAT

BETS on double Cheltenham Festival hero Bob Olinger were sunk by a shock 999-1 in-running winner at Navan yesterday.

The 13-8 favourite (right), who won the 2021 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and last year’s Turner Novices’ Chase, looked likely to make a winning return when he smoothly took the lead with three jumps left.

But Home By The Lee under pressure early in the hands of JJ Slevin, stayed on dourly in the straight to win at 28-1.

His odds had hit the maximum on Betfair, yet in the end he finished well on top of Bob Olinger.

Last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter could only finish fourth.

Hollow Games is 12-1 with most firms for the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Gordon Elliott’s chasing newcomer jumped soundly for a comfortable four-length score in the Beginners Chase.