Ruby Walsh looks to have secured a very good ride on LAST TIME D'ALBAIN, who is handed the vote on his return to hurdling. A winner over fences at Navan in December, he's contested some top events over the bigger obstacles subsequently and arrives here on a massive 36lb lower mark. Mr Eko is another chaser on a fair mark over hurdles and returns after a lay-off on 16lb lower. He showed massive improvement when scoring twice in the spring and shouldn't be dismissed despite a big weight. Volkis O'Blue is a useful hurdler at his best but his victory on this track in February came over 2m6f and this looks on the short side while Fitzgutentyte, though consistent enough, is still a maiden after 29 career starts.
Mr Eko (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Towards rear, steady headway before 2 out where left 3rd, soon 2nd and ridden approaching last, kept on best under pressure to lead run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs 0-109 gd in Mar beating Puddencullinan (10-11) by 2 1/4l, 16 ran.
Volkis O'blue (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Waited with towards rear, 11th before 3 out, headway from before straight, no impression from before last, no extra run-in, 7th of 12, 11l behind Mackey Boy (10-7) at Listowel 2m Handicap Hurdle (80-109) (5yo+) hvy in Sep.
Cairdiuil (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, moderate 6th 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 3rd before last, no impression run-in, 5th of 15, 29l behind Decade Player (10-10) at Ballinrobe 2m mdn hdl sft in Sep.
Last Time D'albain (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leader mainly 4th, ridden entering straight and no impression in 4th before last, left 3rd run-in and no extra, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Un Hinged (10-1) at Punchestown 2m hcp chs sft in May.
Sagarian (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, moderate 4th 4 out, weakened from next, 13th of 15, well behind Decade Player (10-10) at Ballinrobe 2m mdn hdl sft in Sep.
Snow Flyer (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, no impression from 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Hansupfordetroit (11-1) at Ballinrobe 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Sep, 13 ran.
Andalucia Lady (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and weakened after 3 out, last of 7, well behind Khan Tengri (10-3) at Roscommon 2m hcp hdl 80-109 in Aug.
Schindler's Pearl (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, some headway approaching straight, ridden in 4th briefly approaching last, no extra run-in, 5th of 16, 14l behind Wooly Tom (10-10) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hdl 80-102 hvy in Jun.
Bad Cigar (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Soon chased leaders, a bit slow 4 out, soon no impression, not fluent 2 out and kept on same pace, 10th of 14, 37l behind Rawnaq (11-9) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp hdl 80-102 in Aug.
Pride Of The Lions (NZ) 10-3fav (11-2) Settled in mid-division, smooth headway from 4 out, poised to challenge on outer when fell next, in a race won by Shamiran (11-6) at Punchestown 2m nov hcp hdl 80-109 in Nov '10, 16 ran.
Chu Chu Thomas (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Led, headed 4th, disputed lead again from 5 out, headed after next, slight mistake 3 out, weakened, 13th of 20, 31l behind Defence Of Duress (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn hdl gd in Sep.
Grange (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden and no extra entering straight, weakened before 2 out, 16th of 19, well behind Flemross (11-10) at Down Royal 2m hcp hdl 80-95 gd in May.
Tipped Up Harry 50-1 (11-9) In rear, no impression from 3 out, 9th of 14, 8l behind Dara Tango (11-12) at Clonmel 2m nh nov hdl gf in Sep.
Clash Rebel (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Soon mid-division, progress approaching 3 out, on terms into straight, headed after 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 6th of 20, 9l behind Micks (10-8) at Gowran Park 3m hcp hdl 80-116 sft in Nov.
Fitzgutentyte (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Always prominent, 3rd halfway, ridden to lead after 3 out, headed next, rallied under pressure to dispute early run-in, headed and no extra closing stages, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind World Citizen (10-4) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-95 sft in Sep.
Gothen Niece (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Never better than mid-division, 10th of 16, 24l behind Dara Tango (11-12) at Killarney 2m 1f mdn hdl gd in May.
Rookery Rebel (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, led briefly before 3 out, soon headed and dropped to 4th 2 out, no extra, 4th of 14, 21l behind World Citizen (10-4) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-95 sft in Sep.
Invincible Don (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Soon mid-division at ordinary pace, 7th approaching straight, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 6th of 15, 17l behind Bulletproof (11-4) at Wexford 2m hcp hdl 80-95 gf in Jul.
Mountain Pride (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 21st of 23, well behind Captain Arceus (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hdl sft in Sep.
Game Or Salmon (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Soon led, huge advantage from 6th, stopped quickly and headed from before straight, completely tailed off, 17th of 18, well behind Serra Nova (11-0) at Cork 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-95 in Aug.
Speed Dial 20-1 (9-10) Waited with, closer in 7th approaching straight, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out, 6th of 16, 14l behind Acriveen (10-7) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 8Evens16.
Brian The Warrior (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Rear of mid-division, 9th on outer halfway, no threat from 3 out, 11th of 14, 31l behind Blaze Of Fire (11-3) at Wexford 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-95 gd in Jun.
