Questions Answered

Questions Answered looked good in winning the two-mile-three-furlong handicap hurdle at Cork on Saturday. Settled in midfield and on the inside by Paul Townend behind a sedate enough pace set by Conem, the Eric McNamara-trained gelding travelled well through the early stages of the race. Moved to the outside towards the end of the back straight as the field concertinaed, he was one of about 10 horses who were still travelling relatively easily at the top of the home straight. He came under pressure after the first in the home straight, as Castle Anshan and Ninetytwo Team kicked on, but he picked up impressively, and actually jumped the second last in front on the near side. Farringdon and Rock Street gave chase, but Questions Answered galloped on resolutely all the way to the line, and ran out a good winner in the end.

This was a good performance from a five-year-old, in among some hardened handicappers. Third on his previous run at Navan behind Dancing Tornado when he was held up well out the back, when Ninetytwo Team finished a length and a half in front of him and Farringdon was only a head and a short head behind him, he wasn't given as much to do here, and he was unquestionably the best horse in the race on the day. Second in his only point-to-point, it took him four goes to get off the mark over hurdles, but he has won three of his last five, and he has looked really progressive in each of his last three runs. His dam won a point-to-point, and he is a half-brother to a winner over three miles, so there is every chance that he will get further in time. He is an interesting prospect.

3rd April 2010

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