THOMAS Hobson showed that an absence of over two years from the National Hunt field has done nothing to dull his powers over jumps as he landed the Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

A Royal Ascot winner and successful in the Doncaster Cup since he last ran over jumps, the nine-year-old was reappearing just two weeks after an unplaced run in the Gold Cup. For his return to hurdling he faced just four rivals but they included the Cheltenham winner Band Of Outlaws and he gave the Susannah Ricci-owned winner most to do. The even-money favourite produced a nice display from the front and he recovered well from a mistake two out to wing the last and that looked to have sealed victory for the Mullins runner.