ran 4th, mistake 4 out, pushed along entering straight and no impression in 5th last, kept on one pace to go 4th close home
held up in rear, never a factor, pushed along after 2 out and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace
chased leader, 3rd halfway, headway to challenge entering straight, ridden and headed last, no extra run-in
held up towards rear, switched right after 2 out and headway on outer early straight, edged left and progress to lead last, ridden and kept on well run-in
chased leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along in 3rd after 2 out and not clear run approaching last, ridden and kept on into 2nd run-in, no impression on winner closing stages
led and soon clear, 5 lengths advantage halfway, slight mistake 4 out, reduced lead and slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and joined entering straight, ridden and headed last, no impression in 3rd run-in, kept on one pace
Petit Mouchoir won this back in 2016 when beating Nichols Canyon easily then followed up by beating Footpad in the Irish Champion Hurdle here. He didn't do as well as expected over fences last season and reverts to the smaller obstacles. Supasundae is better known as a stayer but had the pace to beat Faugheen in last season's Irish Champion Hurdle. He also landed another Grade 1 on the same track when both MELON and Samcro fell at the third last so won't be undone by a lack of pace. The latter no longer looks the wonder horse that he did when winning his first seven races under Rules having been beaten by Bedrock at Down Royal then put in his place by Buveur D'Air in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and this is very much a retrieval mission. Sharjah, the Galway Hurdle winner, easily beat Faugheen and Tombstone in the Morgiana though was behind Bedrock at Down Royal and Ruby has chosen to ride the selection, whose neck defeat by Buveur D'Air in the Champion Hurdle remains the stand-out form and who will have been aimed at this since the start of the season.
Melon 11-4 (11-12) Held up, soon 6th, headway from before 5th, closing to chase leader when fell 3 out, at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Apr.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, soon no impression on winner, dropped to moderate 4th at last, no impression, 4th of 6, 23 1/2l behind Footpad (11-10) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Samcro (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) Led, driven when headed approaching last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Buveur D'Air (11-7) at Newcastle 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Sharjah (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Raced off front pair in 3rd, closed up in 2nd 2 out, challenged and led straight, asserted from before last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m (1) gd in Nov beating Faugheen (11-10) by 7 1/2l, 4 ran.
Supasundae 9-2 (11-10) Mid-division, pushed along in moderate 5th 4 out, ridden after 3 out, moderate 4th entering straight, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on easy winner before last, kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 20l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) gd in Dec.
Tombstone (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead 4th, mistake and headed 6th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 17th of 21, 14 3/4l behind Wonder Laish (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Dec.
Bedrock 12-1 (11-5) Raced in 3rd, took closer order on outer from 3 out and pushed along to challenge before next, soon led and edged slightly right from last, kept on well run-in, won at Down Royal 2m (1) gd in Nov beating Samcro (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
