chased leaders early, soon held up, rear from 6th, dropped off leaders from next, no impression before 4 out, weakened and completely tailed off
chased leader in 2nd, challenged before 4 out, ridden to dispute before 2 out, bumped slightly with rival last, narrowly headed run-in, no extra close home
held up in last early, 3rd from 6th, dropped off leaders from 7th, no impression from before 4 out, weakened and completely tailed off
led, pressed before 4 out, ridden 3 out, disputed before 2 out, kept on under pressure, bumped slightly with rival last, edged ahead narrowly run-in, all out
Benarty Hill was 0-17 over hurdles before turning to point-to-points where he's won once in 11 starts. Justmemyselfandi landed a Leopardstown maiden over hurdles in January but has fallen in both starts over fences. Noel Meade had a strong hand at the early stage and relies on Burgas, a decent hurdler on his day who made a reasonable start over fences at Punchestown where he would have finished closer but for a bad mistake at the last. That makes him the logical threat to SUTTON MANOR, a dual hurdles winner and a promising chaser judged on his three runs to date especially his latest second to stable companion The Storyteller in what looked a very strong contest at Fairyhouse.
Benarty Hill (IRE) 6-1 (12-2) Alw pr, ld 1/2way, disp 3out & hdd 2out, no ch with easy wnr bef last, kow, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Lagan Island (12-2) at Moira 3m hvy in Dec.
Burgas (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden entering straight, no impression before last where mistake, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 16 1/2l behind Petit Mouchoir (11-12) at Punchestown 2m Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Justmemyselfandi (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th from 3rd, not fluent 5th, soon lost place, 7th after 9th, fell 6 out, at Killarney 2m 7f gd in Aug.
Sutton Manor (IRE) 7-4jfav (11-12) Disputed lead, headed 7th, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, close 2nd 2 out, 3rd before last, regained 2nd at last, kept on without threatening winner run-in, 2nd of 7, 4 3/4l behind The Storyteller (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f sft in Dec.