in rear, not fluent at 1st, slight mistake at 3rd, 5th before 4th, mistake 3 out, no impression in 4th before last, kept on same pace
tracked leader in 2nd, bad mistake at 1st, took closer order 4 out, closed 2 out, no impression on leader before last, ridden and kept on same pace run-in
towards rear, 4th before 4th, improved to 3rd approaching straight, no impression on leader before last, kept on same pace run-in
led, not fluent at 1st and 3rd, 3 lengths clear before 4th, reduced lead 4 out, headed before 2 out where dropped to 3rd, weakened before last
raced 3rd, travelled well and progress to lead before 2 out, asserted and clear before last, kept on well, comfortably
HONEYSUCKLE only scrambled home in this in 2020 but won well a year ago and is now unbeaten in 13 starts under Rules and on her debut between the flags. She looked as good as ever in the Hatton's Grace on her reappearance and it would send shock waves if she was beaten here. Zanahiyr looks next best after his two recent narrow defeats by Sharjah at Grade 1 level and he had Saint Roi and Echoes In Rain behind when beaten a neck in the Matheson at the Christmas fixture.
Saint Roi (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Keen, soon prominent, led from 1st, headed approaching 3rd, led again from 2nd last, quickly joined, not fluent final hurdle and headed, slightly impeded approaching straight, no extra and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Sharjah (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Zanahiyr (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Soon chased leaders, improved to get on terms approaching final hurdle, soon led, narrowly headed inside final furlong and kept on without quite matching winner, 2nd of 6, nk behind Sharjah (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Echoes In Rain (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Waited with, soon towards rear, closed up approaching final hurdle, soon 3rd, dropped to 4th from 2f out, soon no extra, one pace, 4th of 6, 15l behind Sharjah (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Heaven Help Us (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Led, slight mistake 1st, pressed and joined approaching 2 out, soon regained lead and attempted to assert, kept on well run-in, headed near line, 2nd of 9, nk behind Royal Kahala (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Honeysuckle 2-5fav (11-5) In touch, bumped and slight mistake at 2nd, 3rd to clear leader at 3rd, took closer order halfway, closed 4 out, led and asserted travelling well before 2 out, kept on well, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov beating Ronald Pump (11-12) by 8l, 8 ran.
