mid-division, ridden along 5 out, moderate 8th next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders on inner, close 4th and ridden 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
led and disputed early, headed 7th, ridden along 5 out, led again after 4 out, headed 3 out, soon no impression on leaders
led and disputed, led from 7th, ridden and headed after 4 out, soon weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders on outer, 3rd 4 out, soon ridden, improved to lead briefly 3 out, headed before next and soon dropped to 3rd, kept on same pace from last
mid-division on outer, slight mistake 2nd, reminder 7th, weakened 6 out, bad mistake next, pulled up before 4 out
held up in last, mistake 8th, slow jump next and pushed along, headway into close 6th 4 out, improved into close 2nd when mistake 3 out, led before next, ridden and kept on well from before last
tracked leaders, ridden along 5 out, close enough 7th and bad mistake next, moderate 5th 3 out, soon no impression
towards rear, pushed along briefly 6th, headway into close 5th 4 out, ridden in 4th next, went 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace from last
rear of mid-division, weakened from 5 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
Hold Em Cowboy has been very busy and would have won at Downpatrick in December had he stayed up. He beat today's rival In Great Form at Fairyhouse last month and started favourite there on Saturday but was beaten 24 lengths by WITNESS OF FASHION, who jumped superbly and galloped his rivals into the ground. A 4lb penalty shouldn't prevent Pat Rooney's charge following up. Embracing Change was in tremendous form between the flags last spring and made a very satisfactory handicap debut behind Refused A Name at Punchestown. His stable has been going superbly in point-to-points so a big run is anticipated. Dazzlers Day was beaten a long way when third at Punchestown when the favourite Drawn N Drank unseated his rider five out. Blissful Moment had shown nothing over fences before a much better effort on testing ground at Thurles while Zekarya is capable of going well at his best and is better than his form figures suggest.
In Great Form (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division, closer in 6th 4 out, ridden in 4th before 2 out, went 2nd before last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Hold Em Cowboy (10-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Jan.
Drawn N Drank (IRE) 6-1fav (11-4) Towards rear early, mid-division halfway, mistake and unseated rider 5 out, in a race won by Too Late To Sell (10-1) at Punchestown 3m 1f in Jan, 19 ran.
Mister Philson (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Led until after 3 out, soon lost place, last of 6, 18l behind The Young Master (11-2) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
Dazzlers Day (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hampered 6th, moderate 3rd from halfway, closer 4 out, ridden 3 out, no impression next, moderate 4th last, kept on one pace to 3rd close home, 3rd of 19, 23l behind Too Late To Sell (10-1) at Punchestown 3m 1f in Jan.
More Madness (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, bad mistake 3rd and soon dropped to mid-division, no impression from 4 out, 7th of 12, 29l behind Gilgamboa (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Dec.
Fergiethelegend (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Towards rear, ridden along from 5th, no impression from 4 out, 10th of 15, 35l behind Hold Em Cowboy (10-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Jan.
Blissful Moment (USA) 14-1 (11-9) Rear of mid-division, slow 5th, mistake 10th and soon pushed along, moderate 11th 5 out, went remote 5th approaching straight, ridden and kept on one pace to go 2nd closing stages, 2nd of 18, 12l behind Carrigeen Kariega (10-8) at Thurles 3m hcp chs 0-102 hvy in Jan.
Embracing Change (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, progress into 5th 3 out, ridden next, stayed on into 2nd before last, kept on same pace without reaching winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Refused A Name (10-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (0-109) in Jan.
Witness Of Fashion (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Soon close up and disputed lead, headed 7th, on terms again approaching 3 out, led after next, went clear approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp chs 0-109 hvy beating Crowded Room (11-8) by 5l, 18 ran.
Cherryantor (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden in 10th before 4 out, some progress entering straight, kept on without threatening, 5th of 15, 16l behind Hold Em Cowboy (10-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Jan.
Zekarya (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders and 6th halfway, 3rd 3 out, ridden after next and no extra in 6th before last, 7th of 16, 38l behind Day Dream Boy (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp hdl 80-109 in Jan.
Hold Em Cowboy (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Rear of mid-division, some progress when mistake 5 out, chased leaders straight, moderate 4th 2 out, soon no impression, kept on one pace, 3rd of 18, 24l behind Witness Of Fashion (10-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp chs 0-109 hvy.
