chased leader, 2nd halfway, improved to challenge 4 out, led before next, ridden and challenged 2 out, narrowly headed last, no extra run-in, just held 2nd
chased leader, 3rd halfway, ridden and no impression leaders before 3 out, kept on same pace straight, just held for 2nd close home
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, mistake 7th, slow 5 out, no impression from next
towards rear for most, ridden before 5 out, soon no impression
led, challenged 4 out, ridden and headed before 3 out, stayed on to challenge 2 out, narrowly led last, kept on well run-in to assert
Willie Mullins has been very patient with Black Harry, who has not been seen since falling behind Wichita Lineman in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2007 but Mullins is very capable at getting one ready and he has to be respected but a safer option looks to be FOOTY FACTS, who gets the vote with Go Sandy Go rated the pick of the remainder. The selection is capable over fences but is better over hurdles as he showed again when a narrow winner over Rigour Back Bob at Cork on Sunday and a reproduction of the form shown that day will make him tough to beat. Charlie Swan's Checkpointcharlie has ability but has disappointed of late, while Robert Tyner's three times point and hunter chase winner Tullintain is likely to struggle in this company. Go Sandy Go is better than recent efforts suggest and he cannot be discounted but Footy Facts has an obvious chance to follow up Sunday's Cork success and can do so here.
Footy Facts (IRE) 5-2 (10-13) Led and soon 5 lengths clear, reduced advantage before halfway, quickened 5 lengths clear again 5 out, driven along from 2 out and steadily pegged back, strongly pressed and kept on well under pressure run-in, just held on, won at Cork 2m 4f hdl beating Rigour Back Bob (11-1) by shd, 5 ran.
Boxing Along (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 13th of 18, 47l behind Plaisir D'estruval (9-3) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens30.
Black Harry (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led on bit 3 out, ridden and headed well after 2 out, 1 length 2nd when fell last, in a race won by Wichita Lineman (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nh nov hdl (1) gs in Mar '07, 20 ran.
Royal Blood (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Prominent early, dropped to rear halfway, pulled up after 6 out, in a race won by Paco Jack (11-2) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs 0-123 in Aug, 17 ran.
Go Sandy Go (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Prominent, lost place when mistake 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Tooman Lane (10-2) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp chs 0-123 hvy in Feb, 13 ran.
Checkpointcharlie (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, 9th halfway, headway in 5th bypassing 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 16, 16l behind Sharekan (10-8) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft in Feb.
Tullintain (IRE) 2-1 (11-9) Settled 4th, 3rd and headway 4 out, 2nd next, soon ridden, 3rd and no extra after 2 out, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Rudi Trucker (11-11) at Thurles 3m hts chs sft in Jan.
