chased leading pair, chased winner and bumped 9th, ridden to challenge from 2 out, kept on flat but held towards finish
jumped right and hung right throughout, chased winner until went right 8th, stayed in 4th until dropped to last 11th, soon outpaced, tailed off
mostly jumped well, pecked 4 out, stayed on well flat, ridden and always just doing enough towards finish (no time taken)
held up in last pair went 3rd 8th, about 3 lengths 3rd and looked held when blundered badly last, not recover
last pair, went 4th 11th, plugging on one pace when hit inside running rail before 3 out, kept on
Gary Moore's FRUITY O'ROONEY was the highest rated of these over hurdles and looks worth chancing on his reappearance and chasing debut for a stable that does well with runners at this venue. George Baker's Double Dash was capable over timber and could be of interest on his first outing over the larger obstacles but he needs to improve on hurdling form to trouble the selection and a bigger danger looks to be Plunkett. The Evan Williams-trained gelding has 10lb to find with Fruity O'Rooney on hurdles form but represents a yard in fine form so he has to be respected. Irish import Forever Emo makes his first appearance for Jonjo O'Neill and makes more appeal than Kylenoe Fairy, who looks distinctly moderate.
Double Dash 15-2 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 3rd, pushed along briefly 5th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Federstar (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Apr.
Forever Emo (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, dropped towards rear halfway, no impression in 8th 4 out, fell next, in a race won by Seabass (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-109 hvy in Feb, 10 ran.
Fruity O'Rooney 20-1 (11-7) Led, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed before last, one pace flat, 4th of 14, 13l behind Picture This (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Plunkett (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) Led joined from 9th, headed after 3 out, soon pushed along and outpaced, rallied from last, always held, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Grand Zouki (11-1) at Southwell 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Kylenoe Fairy (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Held up in last pair, pushed along 6th, headway to 4th approachiing 2 out, kept on, 4th of 9, 6l behind The Good Guy (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
