mid-division, headway going well 3 out, went 2nd 2 out until hung left before last, held flat, stayed on
jumped well, made all, clear at times, went left last, soon straightened up and asserted, stayed on well, well in command final 75 yards
chased winner until 4th, stayed prominent, outpaced before 2 out, no impression after, ran on final 100 yards
playing up just before start and started a couple of lengths behind rest, held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd before last, soon hung left, lost 2nd flat, faded
held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, effort after 2 out, switched left before last, no impression on leaders
chased leaders on outside and often pressing for 2nd, ridden and weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
towards rear, pushed along briefly before 7th and after 8th, ridden before 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, headway last, stayed on flat, almost took 2nd last stride, no impression on winner
mid-division on outside, lost place 4th, closed before 5th, effort approaching 2 out, weakened well before last
mid-division on inside, not fluent 9th, pushed along after 3 out, headway 2 out, stayed on and went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, just held onto 2nd
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd from 4th until 2 out, outpaced before last, weakened flat
The last three winners of this Grade 1 are set to face the starter again. Flooring Porter was successful 12 months ago but has had his problems since and was beaten by Klassical Dream in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown when last seen, though has been trained with this in mind. Last year’s staying-on third Paisley Park won it 2019 but has become increasingly quirky, though produced a remarkable performance to collar Champ and the 2020 winner Lisnagar Oscar in the Cleeve Hurdle here in January considering he almost didn’t jump off and lost many lengths at the start. Champ had earlier come out best when the pair clashed in the Long Walk at Ascot but THYME HILL (NAP), who finished second, has finally made it to The Festival again after missing out in the last two years and he looks to have everything in his favour, though it’s interesting that Peter Fahey is happy to let Royal Kahala take her chance against the boys again given she beat Home By The Lee and Klassical Dream trying 3m for the first time in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran in January.
Champ (IRE) 8-15fav (11-6) Close 3rd on inside, went 2nd before 3 out, led approaching the last, headed last, edged left run-in, no extra and well held final 150 yards, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Jan.
Flooring Porter (IRE) 16-5 (11-12) Tracked clear leader in clear 2nd,took closer order at 2nd, no impression on leader before last, ridden and kept on run-in, held, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Klassical Dream (11-12) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Home By The Lee (IRE) 80-1 (11-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, mistake 4th, not fluent 9th, pushed along in 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, 4th 2 out, regained 2nd at last, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Royal Kahala (11-1) at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Klassical Dream (FR) 1-3fav (11-12) Soon led, took keen hold, not fluent at 8th, ridden and headed after 2 out, dropped to 3rd at last, 4th and no impression inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 11 1/2l behind Royal Kahala (11-1) at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Koshari (FR) 80-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, mistake 4 out, some headway 3 out, stayed on approaching last, led flat, hard pressed, held on, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Deise Aba (10-12) by nk, 11 ran.
Lisnagar Oscar (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led before 4th, ridden and headed approaching the last, no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 5, 9 1/4l behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Jan.
Paisley Park (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Whipped round start and lost at least 10 lengths, bit closer at 4th, ridden and outpaced in 4th place between last two, rallied between horses before the last, led last, stayed on strongly and went clear final 150 yards, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Jan beating Champ (11-6) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
Song For Someone (GER) 5-2 (11-11) Never going in last pair, dropped to rear and reminders after 2nd, ridden and struggling before 3 out, went remote 4th before next, 4th of 5, 18 1/4l behind Goshen (11-11) at Sandown 2m lst (1) gs in Feb.
Thyme Hill 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went into 3rd 4 out, pushed along home turn, ridden before 2 out, strongly pressed leader 2 out, kept on well, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Champ (11-7) at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Royal Kahala (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan beating Home By The Lee (11-5) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
