Bobs Worth still bound for Gold Cup despite defeat at Leopardstown

Connections of Bobs Worth are putting his disappointing defence of his crown in the Lexus Chase purely down to the testing conditions at Leopardstown.

Last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was sent off favourite to repeat last year's heroics at the Dublin circuit, but was one of the first horses under pressure

Nicky Henderson's nine-year-old plugged on in the straight to finish eighth of nine runners and part-owner Malcolm Kimmins is keen to put a line through the race and move on.

Kimmins said: "The ground was horrendous and he just couldn't deal with it. There was no point destroying him on that sort of ground.

"He looked very well before the race and Barry (Geraghty) was very pleased with the way he felt. He just didn't like the ground.

"When he actually got on the better ground in the straight, it made a big difference and he wasn't beaten that far.

"It was a disappointing trip for his supporters, but he lives to fight another day."

Kimmins said he was unsure as to whether Bobs Worth would run again between now and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

"I think we'll just see how he is. The Gold Cup has always been his major aim and we're still on track for that," said the owner.

Bobs Worth is a 16/1 chance to recapture the Gold Cup crown at Cheltenham in March, with Silviniaco Conti the 11/4 favourite.