held up off the pace in last, went 4th from the 3rd, leading pair well clear before 5th, went 3rd and closed on downhill run to 3 out where not fluent, landed awkwardly 2 out, hung left just after last, switched right flat, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner
chased leaders, front pair went well clear before 5th, blundered 6th, closed before 4 out, went 2nd on downhill run to 3 out, challenged going well at 3 out, led before 2 out, clear from last, stayed on strongly to increase advantage, easily
led from 1st until 4th, led 6th, clear 4 out until before 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten, hit last, lost 2nd close home
not jump well, last from 3rd, tailed off 9th
led until not fluent 1st, led 4th, headed 6th, stayed with leader until 9th, 4th and weakening approaching 3 out, soon behind, tailed off
The principals have stood their ground in this but have frightened away most of the opposition. Petit Mouchoir, third in last year’s Champion Hurdle, got the better of FOOTPAD on three occasions over timber last season but that was on better ground. When the going was soft at Leopardstown last month, Willie Mullins’ novice comfortably came out on top on their first meeting over fences. Henry De Bromhead’s grey will strip fitter today but may not be able to turn the tables on his old rival, who jumps the larger obstacles for fun. Saint Calvados has also taken really well to fences and is another putting an unbeaten record on the line. He looks a cracking prospect but no five-year-old has won this since 2006. Brain Power may be lacking in confidence having crashed out in a couple of Grade 1 races since making a winning debut while Robinshill is only a handicapper who is likely to find this all too much
Brain Power (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Never that fluent, raced keenly, tracked leaders in 4th, tracked leading pair 4th, awkward 7th, not fluent next, slight peck 3 out, pushed along in 3 lengths 2nd when fell 2 out, at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Footpad (FR) 4-9fav (11-10) Made all, went on approaching 3 out, slight mistake last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb beating Petit Mouchoir (11-10) by 5l, 5 ran.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Raced in 2nd, slight mistake 1st, bad mistake 2nd, pushed along straight, no impression and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Footpad (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb.
Robinshill (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Kept wide, raced keenly, tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Saint Calvados (FR) 4-9fav (10-12) Made all, clear before 2 out, won at Warwick 2m (1) sft in Feb beating Diego Du Charmil (11-0) by 22l, 4 ran.
