Keane leads the Irish raid on Ffos Las O Crotaigh gets the Irish challenge underway at Ffos Las when he contests the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle. Vinnie Keane's charge appears to be a stout stayer and he is progressing with experience. Tom Scudamore gets the leg-up for this three miler and he faces another interesting sort with Irish connections in Thehillofuisneach. He was bought for £80,000 at the Cheltenham April Sale by Highflyer Bloodstock on behalf of Dai Walters, the man behind Ffos Las. He was runner-up and then won a point-to-point when with Margaret O'Sullivan. A scopey sort, the market will tell plenty but he is obviously of strong interest here now with Paul Nicholls (Harry Skelton rides). Watamu Bay (also an ex-Irish pointer for Eamonn Fehily) is another one worth watching for Charlie Mann. Harouet will carry the Walters silks in the 1.50 and for the Nicholls/Skelton alliance he must have a huge chance in the Weatherbys Bank Novices' Handicap Chase. The subsequent exploits of Cootehill make Crannaghmore Mist a very interesting runner in the Atech Graphics And Signs Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race. Cootehill has won 'between the flags' and four races on the track for Nigel Twiston Davies and he made his first appearance in public when he was runner-up to Crannaghmore Mist in a point-to-point at Bennettsbridge in February 2008. Crannaghmore Mist has obviously had his problems in the interim and he appears for the first time since then (638 days ago) now. Over two and a half miles on yielding ground in a four-year-old maiden at Bennettsbridge in Co. Kilkenny, Jamie Codd led two out on Crannaghmore Mist and he ran on strongly to beat Cootehill by two lengths. Owned by his Athlone breeder, Brendan Gavin, the Turtle Island gelding hardened from 3/1 into 4/7 on that occasion and Vinnie Keane said of him then: "He'll probably go for a bumper now as he has loads of toe." Ado McGuinness also runs Five Jembs in this mile and six furlong contest.
