led early, headed after 1st, 3rd after 3rd, on terms again next, headed approaching straight, kept on without matching winner from last
chased leaders, jumped left 2nd and bumped rival, soon in rear, pushed along 5th, some headway approaching 2 out, disputed moderate 6th into straight, not fluent last, no extra and eased run-in
held up, 7th after 3rd, went moderate 5th approaching straight, disputed moderate 3rd and not fluent last, one pace
chased leaders, 5th after 3rd, 4th approaching next, pushed along approaching 2 out, dropped to dispute moderate 6th into straight, no extra and not fluent last
prominent, led after 1st, slight mistake 2nd, joined 4th, led again approaching straight, soon went on, slight mistake last, kept on well under pressure run-in
held up, bumped at 2nd, 6th after 3rd, slight mistake 4th, not fluent next, under pressure 3 out, soon in rear and no extra, not fluent last
prominent, 2nd after 3rd, soon 3rd, pushed along from 3 out, bad mistake 2 out, dropped to moderate 4th approaching straight, slight mistake last where disputed moderate 3rd, one pace
tracked leaders, took keen hold, 4th after 3rd, 5th approaching next, slight mistake 5th, moderate 3rd approaching straight, slight mistake last, one pace
Willie Mullins bids for a third straight win and Ruby Walsh partners Bapaume, who won a Grade 2 here on Boxing Day with Mega Fortune not far behind in third and should go close. Stablemate Meri Devie beat Joseph O’Brien’s duo Housesofparliament and Sword Fighter in a maiden hurdle over track and trip in December and Barry Geraghty once again partners the former. Joseph O’Brien also runs hurdling newcomer Bhutan, who beat Housesofparliament and On The Go Again to win maiden on the Flat here last year. Ex Patriot made a winning start over hurdles at Fairyhouse but DINARIA DES OBEAUX looked an exciting prospect when beating a subsequent winner a distance at Cork on her hurdling bow and Gordon Elliott’s filly looks capable of mixing it in this company.
Bapaume (FR) 13-8fav (10-12) Disputed lead early, prominent, slight mistake 3rd, soon moderate 3rd, improved to lead on inner after 2 out, slight mistake last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec beating Landofhopeandglory (11-1) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Bhutan (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, soon 4th, raced on outer into straight, challenged towards outer from 2f out, led from 1 1/2f out, stayed on well to assert inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f mdn hvy in Apr beating Housesofparliament (9-5) by 3l, 12 ran.
Ex Patriot (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 6th early, some slight mistakes, not much room briefly after 3 out, 4th approaching straight, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, stayed on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m mdn sft in Jan beating Mengli Khan (11-7) by 1l, 16 ran.
Housesofparliament (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Chased leaders, moderate 4th from 3rd, mistake 3 out, closer in 3rd and pushed along into straight, challenged from before last, one pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 16, 5l behind Meri Devie (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Yielding in Dec.
Mega Fortune (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, moderate 5th from 3rd, pushed along after 3 out in 4th, 3rd straight, ran on without threatening run-in, just denied for 2nd, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Bapaume (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Sword Fighter (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Soon mid-division, disputed moderate 7th from 3rd, slight mistakes 5th and 3 out, closer order but still 7th into straight, soon no impression and one pace, 5th of 16, 25 3/4l behind Meri Devie (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Yielding in Dec.
Dinaria Des Obeaux (FR) 6-1 (10-7) Raced 4th, 3rd 4 out, progress to 2nd 3 out, soon led, asserted before 2 out where not fluent, eased run-in, very easily, won at Cork 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Tout Est Permis (11-0) by 29l, 22 ran.
Meri Devie (FR) 11-8fav (10-7) Prominent in chasing group, some slight mistakes, closed to get on terms after 2 out, led approaching last, asserted and stayed on best run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m mdn Yielding in Dec beating Housesofparliament (11-0) by 5l, 16 ran.
On The Go Again (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Led, pushed along before straight, headed 2f out, dropped to 5th over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Kellstorm (9-5) at Tipperary 1m 4f mdn hvy in Apr.
