made all, mistake 5th, ridden and pressed 2 out, asserted before last, kept on strongly
held up in 5th, slight mistake 5th, improved into 3rd 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, no extra in 2nd before last, kept on same pace
chased leader early, settled 4th from 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, slightly hampered and ridden 3 out, soon no impression
held up in 4th early, improved to chase leader from 2nd, slight mistake 4th, 2nd halfway, ridden entering straight, no extra in 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leader, 3rd halfway, fell 3 out
always rear, no impression from 4 out, weakened and tailed off
Willie Mullins has won this for the past two years and has three entries. Ruby Walsh is on board DICOSIMO, a winner at Auteuil in October on heavy ground, which presumably means he's better fancied than the consistent-but-exposed Verawal. The form of that race in France has taken knocks but better is expected of the Triumph Hurdle entry and he's handed the vote. Prussian Eagle landed a maiden here in good style but had his limitations exposed when tackling Grade 2 company at Leopardstown though he did finish in front of Thunder Zone, who led for a long way before weakening quickly, and the third Mullins runner Tarabiyn, who looked very one-paced.
Dicosimo (FR) (10-5) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 1f 3yo hdl gs in Oct beating Ardina (10-7) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Prussian Eagle (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, 9th 2 out where slight mistake, headway on outer straight to chase leaders, moderate 3rd at last, one pace run-in, 3rd of 12, 18l behind Fiscal Focus (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Tarabiyn (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, mistake 1st, soon raced in 5th, 7th 2 out, soon no impression, one pace, 7th of 12, 29l behind Fiscal Focus (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Thunder Zone 11-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 4th early, not fluent 2nd, a little keen, on tems 3rd, left in lead from 6th, headed straight, soon no extra, 5th of 12, 26l behind Fiscal Focus (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Verawal (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, soon 2nd, 5th 2 out, soon no impression, one pace, 6th of 12, 26l behind Fiscal Focus (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
St Peter's Square (IRE) 9-2 (9-9) Raced in 4th on outer, ridden from 2f out, dropped to 5th over 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 8l behind Irish Mint (9-6) at Sligo 1m 2f 3yo app hcp in Aug (flat).
