led and attempted to make all, tended to jump slightly right, tried to assert approaching 2 out, 2 length advantage at last, soon strongly pressed and headed, no impression on winner and kept on same pace
chased leader in 3rd, ridden and no impression when blundered 2 out, no extra
chased leader mainly 4th, no impression on first 2 from 2 out, kept on one pace
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden approaching last where 2 lengths down, kept on well under pressure to lead run-in, driven right out
held on in rear, slight mistake 5th, pushed along and no impression on first 2 from 2 out, kept on one pace
always towards rear, no threat from early straight, weakened 2 out, tailed off
Rebel Fitz tackles this trip for the first time and has weight to concede all round though he's won so easily on his last two starts that he looks sure to be in the firing-line. TEXAS JACK retained his unbeaten record with a very impressive victory over Make A Track at Clonmel and looks destined for the top. The runner-up appears unlikely to reverse the form while Just For Joe's defeat by Best Served Cold at Galway wouldn't be good enough for this. Jetson is progressing at a rate of knots and can get involved, however, while Mount Benbulben would probably have been unbeaten in his last four but for slipping up at Galway and is a very nice prospect.
Rebel Fitz (FR) 6-4fav (11-10) Made all, mistake 4 out, clear when good jump last, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Cork 2m nh nov hdl in Oct beating Absolutlyfantastic (11-2) by 6l, 6 ran.
Jetson (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led on inner before 2 out where mistake, stayed on well under pressure to draw on run-in, won at Cork 2m 4f mdn hdl sft beating Daring Article (11-12) by 4l, 20 ran.
Make A Track (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Settled in 3rd, not fluent 4 out and 3 out, good headway to lead before 2 out, strongly pressed approaching last, headed run-in and no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Texas Jack (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f nov hdl sft.
Mount Benbulben (IRE) 1-2fav (11-12) Rear of mid-division, headway from 4 out, not fluent next, 3rd on outer entering straight, led on bit after 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, not extended, won at Thurles 2m 2f Maiden Hurdle (5-6yo) sft beating Golanbrook (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
Texas Jack (IRE) 8-13fav (11-12) Settled in rear, closer approaching straight and went 2nd before 2 out, smooth headway to challenge last, cruised into lead on run-in, unextended, won at Clonmel 2m 4f nov hdl sft beating Make A Track (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Tullintain (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, improved to be on terms 5 out, bad mistake and unseated rider next, in a race won by The Bishop Looney (10-12) at Cork 3m 4f hcp chs 0-150 sft, 14 ran.
Just For Joe (IRE) 7-4 (11-6) Led, clear at stages, not fluent 4th, jumped left 3 out, pushed along 2 out, strongly pressed and joined last, headed and no extra closing stages, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Best Served Cold (11-0) at Galway 2m 4f nh nov hdl hvy in Oct.
