settled behind leaders, moderate 4th halfway, 3rd before 6th, closed 4 out, headway to lead approaching 3 out, asserted before next, clear before last, not extended
held up, mainly 5th, ridden before straight, moderate 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace
led, clear with 2nd before halfway, reduced advantage 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, no extra in 4th 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leader in 2nd, clear of field before halfway, reduced advantage 4 out, disputed briefly before 3 out, ridden in 2nd and no extra before 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, niggled in 5th 5 out, ridden in rear before straight, kept on one pace
held up in rear, headway into 4th 5 out, closer 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace
The jury is out on Mossey Joe, who arrived on the scene from the point-to-point field with huge expectations. He won a Grade 3 on his debut over hurdles and scored his first two starts over regulation fences but things haven't worked out since and he was last of three when long odds-on here three weeks ago. REBEL FITZ has now won eight of his 13 starts including the lucrative Galway Hurdle last time. He's likely to be seen in better company than this later in the year and will be very difficult to beat. Sailors Warn was 10l behind at Galway and can hardly be expected to reverse the form while Jack Cool reverts to hurdles after a spell of chasing without success.
Rebel Fitz (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Settled towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, progress 2 out and good headway on outer to challenge entering straight, led last and soon asserted, eased close home and just held on, won at Galway 2m hcp hdl sft beating Cause Of Causes (10-0) by hd, 20 ran.
Sailors Warn (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden before last and no extra run-in, 5th of 20, 11l behind Rebel Fitz (11-5) at Galway 2m hcp hdl sft.
Ballyadam Brook (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Prominent early, dropped to mid-division before halfway, soon weakened and pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Harpsy Cord (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 2f beg chase sft in Feb, 18 ran.
Fosters Cross (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Led, strongly pressed 2 out and headed approaching last where dropped to 6th, no extra, 8th of 20, 15l behind Rebel Fitz (11-5) at Galway 2m hcp hdl sft.
Jack Cool (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, 5th halfway, driven along in 3rd after 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in without reaching winner, 3rd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Cloone Rocket (11-12) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f beg chs gd.
Mossey Joe (IRE) 1-3fav (11-0) Led and clear, keen hold, jumped left at times, appeared to be going best approaching straight, reduced lead 3 out, headed and quickly beaten next, eased, last of 3, 18l behind Gimli's Rock (11-0) at Cork 3m hdl.
