Buck Rogers, potentially one of the most exciting chasers in the country five years ago, bounced back to winning ways at Thurles yesterday when scooping the EBF Chase.

Winner of three races from as many runs back in 1994, including the Irish Field Chase at Punchestown, the Buckskin gelding has been dogged with injury over the years, but he repaid Victor Bowens for his patience when quickening up in fine style after the final fence to land the spoils under Liam Fleming.

"It's been a long haul with his legs and we had him pinfired. He's obviously a good horse and we're hoping he'll be okay after this. He'll go next for the Munster National at Cork on November 7th, " said Bowens. Barry Geraghty extended his score at the head of the jockeys' championship table to 28 when he completed a 39 1/2 to 1 double aboard Prince Wot A Mess in the Thurles Novice Handicap Chase.

Earlier, he teamed up with the Willie Mullins-trained Native Marsh to score in the second division of the Tipperary Maiden Hurdle.

"He's a fine big horse with the scope and size of a good novice chaser. He may run once more over hurdles before going over fences," said the winning trainer,

Paul Carberry had better luck earlier when scoring on Noel Meade's odds-on chance Boley Lad in the first division of the Tipperary Maiden Hurdle and he was back in the winner's enclosure again after the welter race when he produced The Bongo Man with a perfectly-timed run.