led, not fluent 3rd and joined, soon headed and 2nd from 6th, 3rd next, dropped to rear and reminder 9th, under pressure 6 out, dropped behind next, soon eased, pulled up after 4 out
in touch in rear, slight mistake 1st, tended to jump slightly right, 3rd from 9th, reminder 4 out, soon under pressure, no impression from before straight, no extra from after 3 out
prominent, on terms from 3rd, in front when jumped slightly left 6th, pressed straight, not fluent last, headed run-in, no extra and kept on same closing stages
soon raced in 3rd, 2nd at 7th, pushed along before straight, challenged from 3 out, led run-in and stayed on best closing stages
Rodriguez was having his seventh start over fences when gaining a fortunate victory at Ballinrobe where he was left clear after the last. He's up against much stiffer opposition here. Winter Magic is a useful point-to-pointer who landed a maiden hunter chase at Cork last month and he's certainly worth this step-up in grade. Sammy Black reverted to hurdles after a couple of runs over fences in November and arrives in good form. His opening run behind Ballyburke at Cork was a fair effort and he could prove the main threat to YOU MUST KNOW ME. Henry De Bromhead's charge hasn't quite lived up to the promise he showed on his chasing bow when narrowly beaten by Boston Bob but he's contested much better races than this and can finally get off the mark.
Rodriguez (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no impression on leader approaching last, led early run-in and soon left clear, kept on same pace, won at Ballinrobe 2m 6f beg chase gd in Apr beating Green Thirty Two (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Winter Magic (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Held up, soon in mid-division, closer order when slight mistake 5 out, pushed along from next, 4th from 2 out, 2nd and challenged from last, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Cork 3m hts chs in Apr beating The Tourard Man (12-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Sammy Black (GER) 4-1fav (10-6) Held up towards rear, 8th halfway, progress approaching straight and went 3rd 2 out, no impression on winner in 2nd before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Cara's Oscar (10-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 in Apr.
You Must Know Me (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Mistakes, mid-division, chased leaders after 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from last, no impression, 6th of 30, 13l behind Ma Filleule (11-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
