Footy should be on the ball again
The selection reappears after running at Cork just four days ago and can vindicate Robert Tyner’s decision to bring him out again so quickly.
At Cork, over two and a half miles, Footy Facts made all of the running, holding on for dear life close home to beat the fast-finishing Rigour Back Bob by a short head. Stepping up an extra two furlongs now should work in his favour.
The contest, of course, very much revolves around the state of fitness of the long-absent Willie Mullins-trained Black Harry. He hasn’t been seen for 1105 days, not since taking a crashing fall at the final flight, in what was then the Brit Insurance Novice Hurdle, at the Cheltenham Festival of 2007. He had just been headed by eventual winner, Wichita Lineman, and was destined for a clear second spot.
Black Harry gets a more than useful 10lbs from Footy Facts and though it’s a tall order for him to be anywhere near his best, following such a long break, the fact Mullins has persevered is obviously significant.
Francis Flood’s Lascalahall could be up to winning what looks a woeful Urlingford Maiden Hurdle. The Milan gelding is no star either, but at least has been performing reasonably well and was a close fourth to Mazara at Clonmel last time.
Fennis Boy, Not Before Eight, Dun Masc and Ag Dul Suas all appear to have a life in the Devil’s Bit Maiden Hurdle.
Perhaps, Fennis Boy, who was third to Lady Roberta at Gowran Park last Saturday, will improve for going up to three miles for the first time.
