held up towards rear, 9th at 2nd, headway and pushed along from 2 out, 3rd approaching last where 2nd and jumped left, challenged run-in, led from 100yds out, stayed on well
led, joined from 3 out, headed approaching last, soon no extra in 4th and one pace
in rear, a little keen, headway but pushed along from 2 out, no impression straight, no extra from before last
slight mistake 1st, a little keen, disputed 3rd at 2nd, lost place approaching 2 out, eased straight, tailed off
5th at 2nd, not fluent 3 out and lost place, eased straight, tailed off
soon chased leaders, 6th at 2nd, pushed along from 2 out, went 2nd approaching last where 3rd, kept on same pace run-in
held up, took keen hold, 7th at 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, closed up travelling smoothly from 2 out, pushed along to lead approaching last, headed from 100yds out and kept on without matching winner
soon raced in 2nd, on terms from 3 out, not fluent next, soon headed, no extra approaching last
held up, 8th at 2nd, last at 5th and slight mistake, not fluent 6th, no extra straight
chased leaders, disputed 3rd at 2nd, bad mistake 3 out, on terms from next, ridden straight, headed approaching last, soon no extra in 5th and one pace
Willie Mullins bids for a fifth consecutive win and the County Carlow trainer and Gordon Elliott are responsible for nine of the 10 runners between them. The former runs six with SATURNAS and Ruby Walsh looking first choice after landing the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle over 2m here in December when beating Brelade with stablemate Riven Light well behind. Bunk Off Early, Chateau Conti, Bacardys and Bravissimo are all maiden hurdle winners and make up the rest of the Mullins contingent. Brelade will do well to turn the tables with Saturnas on worse terms while Blood Crazed Tiger was no match for Death Duty in a Grade 1 at Naas and the third Elliott runner, Barra, has won a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse. Noel Meade’s Gunnery Sergeant is another maiden winner and completes the field.
Bacardys (FR) 4-6fav (11-12) Prominent, 5th after 3rd, closed and not fluent 2 out, soon pushed along, challenged approaching last, soon on terms, led run-in, stayed on best to assert closing stages, won at Leopardstown 2m mdn Yielding in Dec beating Kolumbus (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Blood Crazed Tiger (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Led, slight mistake 5th, fell 6th, at Leopardstown 2m 4f (1) gd in Jan.
Bravissimo (FR) 6-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders on outer in 3rd, travelled best to lead 2 out and ridden to assert run-in, won at Limerick 2m 3f mdn hvy in Dec beating Bobo Mac (11-4) by 3l, 13 ran.
Gunnery Sergeant (IRE) 13-8 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd and clear of remainder throughout, led 2 out, ridden clear before last, edged left briefly after last, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 2m mdn sft in Jan beating Kolumbus (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 21 ran.
Saturnas (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Soon raced in 2nd, on terms approaching 2 out, led approaching last, kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec beating Brelade (11-7) by 2l, 7 ran.
Brelade 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, slight mistake 3rd, soon raced in 5th, closed up from before 2 out, on terms from before straight, headed approaching last, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Saturnas (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Bunk Off Early (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Prominent, a little keen, led before 4th, slight mistake 5th, headed from 3 out, led again from next, asserted from before last, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m mdn Yielding in Dec beating Outspoken (11-7) by 5 1/2l, 24 ran.
Chateau Conti (FR) 2-5fav (11-10) Made all, slight mistake 2nd and not fluent 4th, left clear after 3 out, stayed on well, very easily, won at Cork 2m mdn hvy in Jan beating Canelie (11-3) by 7 1/2l, 19 ran.
Riven Light (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Towards rear, not jump well, moderate 6th approaching 2 out, some headway and not much room early straight, moderate 4th from before last, soon no extra, one pace, 4th of 7, 13 3/4l behind Saturnas (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Barra (FR) 5-4fav (11-7) A little tight for room briefly early, tracked leaders, 5th at 2nd, improved to get on terms 3 out, soon led and went on, pushed along approaching last, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 2f mdn sft in Jan beating Kate Appleby Shoes (11-7) by 12l, 24 ran.
