made all, slight mistake 4 out, eased clear before 2 out, not extended
chased leader in 2nd, ridden and slight mistake 3 out, soon no impression winner, kept on one pace
held up in last, ridden and no extra before 3 out, weakened
BLACKMAIL doesn't have an official rating over timber but he demolished the 120-rated Enchanted Forest on his hurdling debut at Galway and looks thrown in here. Bob Le Beau took a few runs to get the hang of hurdling but won nicely at Ballinrobe and didn't disgrace himself in a much better race at Galway subsequently. The once very promising Formidableopponent has been beaten a long way in his two runs this year following an absence since 2011 and might need another couple of runs but Hero De Villeneuve has shown nothing so far.
Blackmail (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders on inner and 3rd halfway, smooth headway to lead before 2 out, pushed out and drew clear run-in, won at Galway 2m mdn hdl gd in Jul beating Enchanted Forest (11-12) by 12l, 14 ran.
Bob Le Beau (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Chased leader in 2nd, tight for room and collided with rail before 2 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, no extra in 5th entering straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, 8l behind Que Pasa (11-2) at Galway 2m nh nov hdl gd in Jul.
Formidableopponent (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division on inner, ridden 4 out, weakened from next, last of 22, well behind Captain Arceus (10-9) at Fairyhouse 2m ext hcp hdl in Apr.
Hero De Villeneuve (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, behind when fell 4 out, in a race won by Mad Brian (11-5) at Navan 2m mdn hdl sft in Mar, 19 ran.
