in touch, 4th halfway, progress 3f out, lost place and ridden 2f out, weakened 1 1/2f out
mid-division, ran freely, 6th halfway, headway over 2f out, improved to 2nd under 2f out, ridden and kept on in clear 2nd inside final furlong, not trouble winner
in rear, 10th halfway, no impression in 9th over 2f out, weakened and detached under 2f out, never a factor
towards rear, 7th halfway, headway on outer under 2f out, ridden in 4th over 1f out, kept on one pace in 3rd inside final furlong
soon mid-division on inner, ran freely, headway to 2nd after 3f, took closer order over 6f out, lost place and ridden under 2f out, edged right and weakened in 5th over 1f out
led, headed after 2 1/2f, soon 3rd, lost place and under pressure 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, 4th after 5f, 5th halfway, lost place and under pressure over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
soon rear of mid-division, dropped to rear after 6f, 9th halfway, weakened and detached under 2f out
towards rear, 8th halfway, good headway over 3f out, 2nd 2 1/2f out, soon ridden, dropped to 3rd under 2f out, no extra in 4th inside final furlong
in touch, ran freely, led after 2 1/2f, increased advantage after 5f, reduced lead over 6f out, travelled well 2 1/2f out, asserted 1f out, kept on well
Faulty looked like winning at Down Royal last month but had pulled hard and had nothing left in the closing stages. He looks the best of those with experience though Volantis was only caught in the closing stages at Sedgefield after building up a long lead. Ossifer Pops has joined Gordon Elliott after a placed effort between the flags but Willie Mullins has a 32% success rate with his bumper runners this season and WESTPORT COVE, who is the first foal of a winning hurdler from a very smart family, looks another for the yard.
Always Handy (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division early, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 3f out, 8th of 10, dist behind Demandrivingdouvan (12-0) at Thurles 2m Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Faulty 9-5fav (12-0) Mid-division, keen, moderate 3rd halfway, closer in 3rd 5f out, 2nd over 4f out, led over 2f out, ridden and pressed over 1f out, edged left under 1f out, headed and no extra in 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Lucky Lyreen (12-0) at Down Royal 2m 1f sft in Dec.
Grand Rouge (IRE) 150-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, detached before 3 out, never a factor, last of 16, dist behind The Four Sixes (11-8) at Clonmel 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Great Universe 400-1 (10-12) Mid-division out wide, closer approaching 5th, ridden before 2 out, weakened into 5th run-in, 5th of 11, at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gd in Nov.
Makaela's Choice (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Led, pushed along and headed 3f out, soon lost place, weakened 2f out, last of 7, dist behind Slade Steel (12-0) at Punchestown 2m sft in Dec.
Mon Loulou (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Alw rr, last from 4th, pu aftr 6out, at Dromahane 3m mdn hvy in Dec.
Ossifer Hops (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Disp ld early, cl 2nd 1/2way, rejnd ldr aftr 2out, ev ch last, sn hdd no ch with easy wnr, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Ballyburn (11-6) at Loughanmore 3m mdn Yielding in Oct.
Sophus (IRE) Pour Moi gelding out of Rydalis.
Volantis (IRE) 4-6fav (11-2) Led, shaken up well over 2f out, ridden and wandered over 1f out, headed narrowly final 110 yards, no extra, 2nd of 5, nk behind Swallows Song (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (5) sft in Nov.
Westport Cove (FR) Muhtathir gelding out of Reine Pieuse.
