Brave Fortune landed a point at Castletown by 15 lengths at the beginning of the month and looks a nice recruit but JOYEUX VIVO (NAP) was a close third in a Punchestown bumper in April and the runner-up Williethebuilder hosed up on his hurdling debut for Dan Skelton before a close fourth in a Cheltenham Grade 2 on Friday. Winning Smut did best when dropped back to 2m in a Listowel Listed handicap though has to be considered along with Cobra Queen, who has joined Henry De Bromhead after landing a point at Ballyknock in April.
Brave Fortune (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs in 3rd on outer, 2nd from 6th, ld bef 2out & went 10l clr trvllng best well bef last, kow, v easily, won at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m mdn sft in Oct beating Boolamore Classic (11-11) by 15l, 12 ran.
Jasmin De Cotte (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Tr ldrs, slw jmp 2nd, 2nd 1/2way, sl mstk 3out, rdn 2out, no ex bef last, ko onepce, 2nd of 7, 4l behind San Frandisco (11-11) at Monksgrange 3m mdn sft in Mar.
Jerk (FR) 100-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened, 17th of 22, 26 1/2l behind Angelo Dundee (11-10) at Punchestown 2m Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Johnny Cakes (FR) 250-1 (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along and no extra after 3 out, tailed off, 17th of 18, dist behind A Penny A Hundred (11-0) at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Oct.
Joyeux Vivo (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division on outer, headway into 5th 3f out, ridden in 3rd 2f out, kept on same pace in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 22, 5 1/4l behind Angelo Dundee (11-10) at Punchestown 2m Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Pay The Tab (IRE) 17-2 (11-11) Raced detached in rear and pushed along from early, not fluent at times and no threat from halfway, pulled up inside final 100 yards, at Downpatrick 2m 2f mdn sft in Oct.
Pride Of Place (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Mid-division and soon off pace, never a factor, no danger from 4 out, completely tailed off, 13th of 20, dist behind Hypotenus (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Tropical Speed (IRE) 300-1 (11-7) Mid-division and soon off pace, not fluent jumping, no danger when mistake and unseated rider 4 out, at Gowran Park 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Western Fold (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Gowran Park 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Winning Smut (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up behind leaders, 3rd after 3rd, closer and slight mistake 3 out, ridden into close 2nd before 2 out, no impression on leader before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Solitary Man (11-9) at Killarney 2m 7f Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Without Exception (IRE) Sans Frontieres gelding out of The Big Nun.
Cobra Queen (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Rr, prog aftr 3rd to disp from 5th & jw, sl adv when landed faster last, ko to assert flat, won at Ballyknock 3m mdn Soft - Heavy in Apr beating Bluey (11-11) by 2l, 7 ran.
Little Hero (IRE) 80-1 (11-3) Slightly hampered start, soon mid-division on inner, 6th halfway, ridden and weakened 3f out, last of 12, dist behind Samui (11-10) at Naas 2m Yielding in Feb.
