tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd at 3rd, disputed 4th from 6th, ridden in last 3 out, no impression
tracked leaders in 3rd early, took keen hold, not fluent at 1st, 2nd from 3rd, disputed lead 3 out, led entering straight, travelling well 2 out, ridden and joined before last, headed after last, kept on well under pressure in 2nd inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 4th on outer, 3rd from 6th, headway into 2nd and ridden before 2 out, disputed lead before last, led after last, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong
led, not fluent at 2nd and 6th, joined 3 out, ridden and headed entering straight, dropped to moderate 4th 2 out, no impression
held up in last, took keen hold, disputed 4th from 6th, ridden and went moderate 3rd 2 out, no impression on leaders, kept on one pace
Buddy One continued his good form in a Cheltenham handicap but meets much stronger opposition here. Zanahiyr has mixed it with the best at the highest level but generally just falls short in Grade 1 company. His stablemate Teahupoo beat Klassical Dream and Honeysuckle in this a year ago before an easy Grade 2 victory at Gowran. Narrowly beaten in the Stayers' Hurdle as Cheltenham and its equivalent at Punchestown, he'll be primed to repeat last year's success. IMPAIRE ET PASSE is unbeaten in five starts, the last two in championship Grade 1 races at Cheltenham and Punchestown. He looks the one to beat though stablemate Ashroe Diamond ended her first hurdling campaign with two victories here, the latest in the Grade 1 Honeysuckle over this trip.
Buddy One (IRE) 9-4fav (12-0) Close up, tracked leader 2 out, led approaching next, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov beating The Newest One (10-2) by 1l, 15 ran.
Impaire Et Passe (FR) 1-3fav (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 6th, 3rd halfway and closer 4 out, led before last, driven out and drew clear run-in, kept on well, won at Punchestown 2m 3f (1) Yielding in Apr beating High Definition (11-12) by 7 1/2l, 5 ran.
Teahupoo (FR) 3-1jfav (11-10) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 5 out, slightly hampered 3 out, switched left before next, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra in 4th before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 3l behind Klassical Dream (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Zanahiyr (IRE) 5-4fav (11-3) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway to lead travelling well after 2 out, strongly pressed last, ridden and headed 100 yards out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Bob Olinger (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Ashroe Diamond (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, 8th halfway, headway entering straight and 2nd travelling well before 2 out, led last, pushed out to assert run-in, kept on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Apr beating Whatcouldhavebeen (11-5) by 5l, 14 ran.
