chased leaders, went 2nd and edged slightly left towards rail after 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, ridden and headed final 50 yards, lost 2nd towards finish
not jump well, behind, closed from 3 out but never got on terms, another mistake 2 out and well beaten after
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd, not fluent and looked to be hanging right from 6th, lost place 7th, wide but closed 3 out, held from 2 out, kept on
held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, headway on outside approaching 3 out, close 3rd 2 out, held in 4th and carried right flat, kept on
chased leaders, lost place 4th, closed 6th, beaten last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, closed 4 out, stumbled slightly last, switched right flat, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
led 1st, headed 2nd, led 3rd until 8th, led after 9th, mistake 4 out, headed 3 out, soon beginning to lost place and hampered, well behind 2 out
mid-division on inside, headway 6th, chased leaders on inside when badly hampered and lost ground after 3 out, went 5th and kept on from last, no impression
led until 1st, led 2nd until 3rd, led 8th, headed after next, led and reached through 3 out, headed after 2 out, led again final 50 yards, stayed on gamely
Withdrawn
A cracking renewal, despite the late defection of dual winner Altior. Chacun Pour Soi has been all the rage with punters having won six of his seven starts since joining Willie Mullins. He’s already beaten Notebook twice this season but there are concerns about how he’ll handle this stiff track and he is also having a first run in the UK. PUT THE KETTLE ON was beaten more than eight lengths at Leopardstown over Christmas but wasn’t suited by the race was run that day. She needs an end-to-end gallop, which she’ll get in this, and is 3-3 over these fences having won the Arkle last year when Rouge Vif was beaten almost 20 lengths- she could be the value. Sceau Royal won the Game Spirit at Newbury ahead of Champ and Greaneteen after an unlucky fall behind Nube Negra at Kempton but was tailed off here last year behind Politologue, who was beaten by First Flow in the Clarence House at Ascot in January. Cilaos Emery is definitely the Mullins’ second string but is 4-6 over fences and was fourth in last year’s Champion Hurdle so is no mug.
Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 2-5fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, closer 3 out, headway travelling well between horses to lead before last, soon asserted run-in and stayed on well, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb beating Fakir D'Oudairies (11-12) by 8l, 6 ran.
Cilaos Emery (FR) 1-2fav (11-12) Made all, went clear travelling well 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, not extended, easily, won at Naas 2m (1) sft in Feb beating Daly Tiger (11-3) by 11l, 4 ran.
First Flow (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, led 7th, headed next, led again 9th, clear last, stayed on well, won at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan beating Politologue (11-7) by 7l, 8 ran.
Greaneteen (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, chased leaders, headway to challenge approaching 3 out, ridden next, no extra before last, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Sceau Royal (11-0) at Newbury 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Notebook (GER) 10-1 (11-12) Prominent and led from 2nd, pressed 2 out, soon pushed along and headed approaching last, 3rd at last, ridden and no extra run-in, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Chacun Pour Soi (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb.
Nube Negra (SPA) 20-1 (11-0) Held up, closed going strongly 4th, disputing 2nd from next, challenged still going well 2 out, soon led, clear when jumped right and not fluent last, eased towards finish, won at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec beating Altior (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Rouge Vif (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Led until 1st, chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 5th, no impression from next, mistake 3 out, 4th of 6, 25 1/4l behind Nube Negra (11-0) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Sceau Royal (FR) 3-1fav (11-0) Raced in touch, smooth headway to go second approaching 4 out, led 2 out, ridden flat, ran on well, won at Newbury 2m (1) gs in Feb beating Champ (11-3) by 2l, 6 ran.
Put The Kettle On (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Chased leader, close 4th halfway, 3rd 3 out, ridden after last, no impression over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8 1/4l behind Chacun Pour Soi (12-0) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Dec.
Politologue (FR) 11-8fav (11-7) Led until 7th, led again next, headed 9th, driven after 2 out, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 8, 7l behind First Flow (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
