RACING/Leopardstown report: Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen travelled the guts of 4,000 miles for Refuse To Bend's comeback at Leopardstown yesterday and the 2,000 Guineas winner paid them off in style.

Refuse To Bend conceded weight all round to win the Desmond Stakes by three lengths from Latino Magic and remains firmly on target for his end-of-year target, the Breeders Cup Mile.

"We will have to decide if he runs in the Prix du Moulin or the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes next, but that was very professional," said Weld.

"Personally, I think he is a better horse now than ever before, and even being not fully tuned up, and with the penalty, it would have taken an exceptional horse to have beaten him today.

"He didn't stay in the Derby, plain and simple. He also didn't come down the hill very well at Epsom and when his chance was gone Pat looked after him.

"What I really liked today was how he hopped off the ground. I walked a bit of it beforehand and it's fast, safe going. There's no reason why he won't handle it the same in America," he added.

Weld and Smullen arrived back in Dublin from Chicago where Evolving Tactics had run sixth in Saturday night's Secretariat Stakes on unsuitably soft ground.

However, the partnership wasted no time resuming normal service, and while Refuse To Bend indicated he may be better than ever, Vinnie Roe proved he is just as good as ever with his own comeback victory in the Ballyroan Stakes.

Without his customary visor, Vinnie Roe overcame a less than clear passage to overhaul Carpanetto by a head and set up a tilt at a third consecutive Irish St Leger.

Throw in the 2001 French version and the star stayer will be bucking for a fourth Leger, after which the Arc de Triomphe may come into calculations.

"We will take things as they come after the Irish Leger. He is a very brave horse and that bit of class helped him today," said Weld, who could give Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle a first start of the season at Fairyhouse this Sunday.

Weld and Smullen initiated a treble when Relaxed Gesture comfortably took the two-year-old maiden with the favourite, Rock Of Cashel, only third.

Michael Kinane was on the same flight back from Chicago after partnering France into fourth in the Secretariat but the trip didn't dim his keen eye for the local fare.

The champion jockey steered Avec Plaisir to victory in the Clontarf Handicap, comprehensively reversing form with the topweight In Theory from Gowran on Wednesday.

"We had the right man on her back," acknowledged trainer Francis Flood. "He saw the race at Gowran and said we were unlucky because the other horse got away. But he rides this track so well."

Kinane hit the mark again in the Dalkey Handicap, coming from last to win on King Of Peace.

Sean Quinlan partnered his initial career winner with his very first public mount aboard the Edward O'Grady-trained Albatros in the featured Richard Power Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle at Tramore yesterday. The 19-year-old brought Albatos with a well-timed challenge to deny Four On The Trot by a half length.

Pat Fahy's Tribal Princess easily won the Tramore Directors Handicap and may now go to Tralee.