Rock Critic is clear of Seabass and Make Your Mark at Fairyhouse© Photo Healy Racing
Rock Critic shrugged aside the possible negative of 108 day break from racecourse duty when impressively landing the opening Racegoer's 25 Euros Package Hurdle at Fairyhouse under Robbie McNamara.
The eight-year-old son of Pivotal travelled with ease and hurdled brilliantly in behind the pace-setting favourite, Make Your Mark
McNamara let the Moyglare Stud Farm runner assume command on the approach to the last where he was a little bit awkward. That mattered not a bit though.
At this stage Seabass (now 16s from 20s for the Grand National with Stan James)was finding his full stride and he performed with a huge degree of credit to chase home Rock Critic at a distance of three and a quarter lengths.
Make Your Mark faded to finish another nine and a half lengths back in third. They may have been out of their grade but it was certainly encouraging for connections of the principals, that the best of the rest was Count Salazar – all of forty eight lengths behind in fourth.
Dermot Weld handles Rock Critic and he explained: "He did what I thought he would do. He knows his job and he jumps well.
"He would much prefer better ground. We've no definite plan – we'll speak to the owners. "He's entered in Cheltenham but at the moment I see him as a Punchestown/Fairyhouse horse.
"We didn't plan to get there so soon but his jumping took him there – he jumped like a stag."
Ted Walsh was obviously pleased with Seabass and he'll be out in about three weeks again - in the Bobbyjo, the race he won at Naas last year or the Racing Plus Chase.
It'll be back to Aintree then, for the National, for the Turtle Island gelding. (GC & EM)
