chased leader, challenged going well 3 out, led 2 out, drawing clear when left 15 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly, impressive
held up, raced keenly, not fluent 4th, closed from 4 out, tracking leaders 3 out, bad mistake 2 out and lost ground on leaders, stayed on from final bend, left 2nd and hampered last, switched left and kept on, no chance with winner
held up on inside, travelled strongly, tracking leaders from 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, no chance with winner but clear 2nd when fell last
led, clear after 1st until after 2nd, pressed 3 out, headed next, soon outpaced by winner and lost 2nd, left disputing 2nd briefly last, kept on
not much room on landing 2nd, last pair and outpaced after, well beaten before 3 out
towards rear on outside, ridden and struggling in last pair after 2nd, slow 3rd, well beaten before 3 out, went 5th and not much room last, no impression
chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten from next, eased before last
held up, hit 2nd, outpaced 3 out, left 4th last, no impression, kept on
Only eight runners are scheduled to go to post for the opener, a much smaller field than usual. Only one seven-year-old has won this since 1995, Captain Cee Bee in 2008, so history is against APPRECIATE IT but trainer Willie Mullins has won the race six times so knows what it takes. Paul Townend’s mount has shown himself to be the best 2m novice in Ireland this season with victories in the Grade 1 Future Champions and the Pharma at Leopardstown with Ballyadam, Blue Lord and Irascible all looking held on the form book. He also has form at The Festival having finished second in last year’s Champion Bumper, a rich seam for hurdle winners. Metier looks the pick of the home team having completed his hat-trick in the Tolworth at Sandown. He’s had a rest since but converts from the Flat have a poor record in this while seven Betfair Hurdle winners have tried their luck in this contest in the last 10 years and none have won, a fact that may count against Newbury winner Soaring Glory.
Appreciate It (IRE) 1-3fav (11-12) Led and disputed, slight mistake 2 out, soon led, ridden entering straight, kept on well from before last, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Ballyadam (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 13 ran.
Ballyadam (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, progress into 4th 2 out, ridden into 2nd entering straight, no impression on leader before last where slight mistake, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 13, 3 1/4l behind Appreciate It (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Blue Lord (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, progress in 8th 2 out, soon ridden, under pressure in 6th before last, kept on run-in, no impression on leaders, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Appreciate It (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
For Pleasure (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Led, headed 2 out, soon ridden for effort, no extra from last, 14th of 23, 18 1/4l behind Soaring Glory (10-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Grumpy Charley 5-4 (11-12) Chased leader, driven after 2 out, wandered slightly and led before last, stayed on flat, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Eamon An Cnoic (10-11) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Irascible (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Led and disputed, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, no extra in 4th before last, kept on one pace, 5th of 13, 9l behind Appreciate It (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Metier (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Held up in close 5th on inside, headway on bit before 2 out, led before last and soon clear, drew right away run-in, impressive, won at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating Shakem Up'arry (11-7) by 12l, 7 ran.
Soaring Glory (IRE) 17-2 (10-7) Midfield, good headway to chase leaders before 2 out, led going well approaching last, ridden after last, ran on strongly flat, won at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb beating Fifty Ball (10-5) by 3l, 23 ran.
