prominent, led approaching 1st where slow jump and headed and dropped to rear, slow jump 2nd and pushed along in last, soon headway to chase leaders but not fluent jumping and quickly at the back again, no extra from before final hurdle
led, headed approaching 1st, prominent, regained lead approaching 3rd, headed from 2nd last, weakened approaching final hurdle
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
waited with in rear early, soon chased leaders, briefly tight for room and pushed along briefly approaching final hurdle, closed up travelling smoothly straight, under pressure and gained narrow lead inside final furlong, stayed on well
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
waited with, soon towards rear, closed up approaching final hurdle, soon 3rd, dropped to 4th from 2f out, soon no extra, one pace
SHARJAH has won this under Patrick Mullins for the past three years. Runner-up to Epatante in the 2020 Champion Hurdle, he saw Honeysuckle disappearing in front of him in his next three starts, including when runner-up in this year's Champion Hurdle, before beating Zanahiyr three lengths in last month's Morgiana with Echoes In Rain, who probably needed the run, beaten 15l. Petite Mouchoir and Saint Roi were beaten around five lengths in this last year and it's difficult to see a form reversal while Felix Desjy would need a career-best.
Felix Desjy (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Led, not fluent at 2nd, soon 4 lengths clear, reduced lead after 3rd, soon headed, dropped to 4th at 4th where not fluent, 3rd at 5th, switched right before 2 out, one paced before last, 3rd of 6, 14 1/4l behind Captain Guinness (11-3) at Naas 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Nov.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 4-6fav (11-4) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along in 3rd entering straight, ridden and under pressure before 2 out where fell, at Cork 2m gd in Apr.
Saint Roi (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Towards rear, pushed along after 2 out, 4th and no impression early straight, mistake last, no extra and kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 21l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Sharjah (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Raced in 2nd, on terms briefly 3rd, travelling smoothly approaching straight, led approaching last, soon ridden to assert and stayed on well, won at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Nov beating Zanahiyr (11-12) by 3l, 3 ran.
Zanahiyr (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Led, slight mistake 3rd and joined briefly, slight mistake 5th, pushed along approaching straight, headed approaching last, slightly impeded and switched left run-in, kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 3, 3l behind Sharjah (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Nov.
Echoes In Rain (FR) 7-4 (11-5) Waited with, in touch in rear, keen, slight mistake 2nd, slight mistake 2 out, under pressure early straight, soon no impression, no extra from before last, last of 3, 15l behind Sharjah (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Nov.
