tracked leader, closed up approaching 2 out where jumped right, soon under pressure, not match winner and almost joined for 2nd when fell last
led, pressed from before 2 out, asserted approaching last where slight mistake, kept on well run-in, reduced lead close home but always looking likely to maintain advantage
raced in moderate 3rd, closed to almost dispute moderate 2nd when slight mistake last and left chasing winner, ran on well run-in, not bridge gap
in rear, pushed along briefly 4th, pushed along again 5th, soon no danger, left distant 3rd from last
FAUGHEEN was surprisingly beaten by stable companion Nichols Canyon on his reappearance last season, his only defeat in 13 starts for Willie Mullins, and has hardly had the best of preparations for this season's comeback. However, he is head and shoulders above any other hurdler in training as he proved in this a year ago and it will be a shock if he's beaten. Nichols Canyon has won seven Grade 1's of his own but was surprisingly put in his place by Petit Mouchoir in the Ryanair Hurdle here last time with Ivanovich Gorbatov a couple of lengths away and Footpad a further five lengths behind. That was a cracking performance by the winner, who may have won the Fighting Fifth but for a fall at the third last when in the lead, though the runner-up may not have been at his best.
Nichols Canyon 2-5fav (11-10) Led early, headed 1st, tracked leader, 2nd halfway, closer 3 out, pushed along and no impression on winner after next, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Petit Mouchoir (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Ran freely early and led 1st, 3 lengths lead halfway, pressed after 3 out, asserted after next, pushed along and 6 lengths clear before last, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec beating Nichols Canyon (11-10) by 7l, 5 ran.
Footpad (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, 4th halfway, pushed along after 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 4th of 5, 14 1/4l behind Petit Mouchoir (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, some progress after 2 out, pushed along to go moderate 3rd approaching last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 9 1/4l behind Petit Mouchoir (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Faugheen (IRE) 3-10fav (11-10) Made all, soon pressed, asserted entering straight, eased clear before last where mistake, shaken up briefly run-in, very easily, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Jan beating Arctic Fire (11-10) by 15l, 5 ran.
