led, pushed along straight, soon strongly pressed, headed and kept on same pace run-in
chased leaders, slow jump 2nd, slight mistake 5th, pushed along from 2 out, no impression straight
soon towards rear, pushed along from 2 out, progress to chase leaders but no impression approaching last, kept on same pace
raced in 3rd, pushed along from 2 out, dropped to 5th and no extra straight, one pace
soon chased leaders, still travelling smoothly from 2 out, pushed along straight, slight mistake last and one pace
raced in 2nd, slight mistake 3 out, pushed along from next, challenged straight, led and stayed on well run-in
held up early and a little keen, soon chased leaders, pushed along from 2 out, no extra when bad mistake last
in rear, pushed along from 2 out, no impression straight
This boils down to which FAUGHEEN turns up. The brilliant former champion won this in 2016, his eighth Grade 1 success, before injury curtailed his career though he looked as good as ever when landing the Morgiana at Punchestown in November. Whatever happened here over Christmas remains a mystery but hopefully he's over whatever ailed him. Mick Jazz was the beneficiary of that latest performance though a more likely challenger this time is the selection's stable companion Melon, though he's disappointed on a couple of occasions especially behind My Tent Or Yours and The New One at Cheltenham last time. Last season's top juvenile, Defi Du Seuil, ran a shocker on his return to action at Ascot in November but Philip Hobbs retains faith in him and wouldn't be sending him here without expectations. Supasundae is tough and consistent though this looks on the short side.
Faugheen (IRE) 2-11fav (11-10) Led, joined from 3rd, headed approaching 4th, lost place quickly and pulled up approaching 2 out, at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Identity Thief (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Led, headed 5th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, last of 10, 22 3/4l behind Wicklow Brave (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Jezki (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up, badly hampered 5th, closed approaching final hurdle to track leaders, lost place and no impression over 1f out, 5th of 6, 25 1/4l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Melon 7-4fav (11-6) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, not clear run on inside after 2 out, every chance last, ridden flat, 3rd and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Mick Jazz (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Raced in 4th, closed up approaching 2 out, travelling smoothly before straight, gained narrow lead from last, stayed on best run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Dec beating Cilaos Emery (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Supasundae 7-1 (11-10) Soon disputed lead, headed from 3rd, pushed along briefly approaching 4th where back on terms, led 5th, joined at final hurdle, soon narrow leader again, strongly pressed and kept on well final furlong, headed near line, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Bapaume (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Held up, slightly impeded 5th, soon raced in 3rd, 4th at 8th, soon 3rd again, still travelling smoothly into straight, no impression under pressure inside final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 6, 5 1/4l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Defi Du Seuil (FR) 10-11fav (11-3) Took keen hold, tracked leading pair until after 2nd, mistake next, went left 6th, 3rd again 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 4th of 5, 17 1/2l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gs in Nov.
