held up, 6th early, 5th halfway, niggled along 5 out, ridden and no impression next, soon no extra and weakened
settled behind leaders early, soon held up in 5th, dropped to 6th halfway, ridden and no impression 4 out, moderate 5th 3 out, kept on one pace
held up in rear early, good jump 1st and soon improved, 4th from 2nd, 3rd 3 out, soon pushed along and no impression on leaders, kept on same pace from last
led, joined and disputed from before 6th, ridden and headed after 4 out, no extra in 4th 3 out, weakened
chased leader in 2nd, disputed from before 6th, led after 4 out, joined and ridden 3 out, headed after 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, improved challenge 3 out, soon disputed travelling best, slight mistake 2 out, soon led, shaken up to assert last, easily
always rear, ridden and no impression 4 out, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off
Denis Cullen has acquired a tremendous addition to his yard in Arctic Fire, a Grade 1 winning hurdler for Willie Mullins who was last seen landing the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last year before a close third behind Wicklow Brave in the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown a month later. He's taking on another former useful type in Flaxen Flare, the 2013 Triumph Hurdle winner, who was chasing for much of last season but showed he retains ability when runner-up to The Game Changer over timber at Down Royal last month. GOOD THYNE TARA hasn't had anything like the experience of that pair but is doing well and was very impressive on good ground at Ballinrobe so gets the nod to land this for the champion trainer. Woodland Opera is a smart chaser who hasn't run over hurdles for over two years but beat Val De Ferbet in very good style at Punchestown that day.
Lieutenant Colonel 7-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up, some headway when not fluent 3 out, no extra 2 out, 7th of 8, 21 1/2l behind The Game Changer (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f gd in Jun.
Antimatter (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 4th and closed from before straight, kept on same pace without matching front pair from 2 out, 3rd of 14, 9 1/4l behind Konig Hall (11-4) at Wexford 2m hcp gd in Jun.
Arctic Fire (GER) 9-2 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, headway into moderate 5th 3 out, soon ridden, 4th at last, kept on without threatening run-in, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Wicklow Brave (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Flaxen Flare (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Led, some slight mistakes, joined from before 2 out, narrowly headed and kept on without quite matching winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind The Game Changer (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f gd in Jun.
Woodland Opera (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 2nd at 5th, joined for 2nd briefly 4 out, ridden and dispute d2nd again entering straight, no impression on winner from 2 out, went moderate 2nd at last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Ballyoisin (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 5f gd in Jun.
Good Thyne Tara 13-8fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, mistake 4 out, headway after 2 out and led travelling well before last, soon stretched clear run-in and stayed on well, very easily, won at Ballinrobe 2m gd in May beating Housesofparliament (11-10) by 16l, 12 ran.
Samsara (FR) (10-7) 5th of 6, dist behind Broughton (10-8) at San Siro 3m 1f gd in May.
