soon disputed lead, still on terms when fell 4 out
soon chased leaders, 7th after 4th, inclined to jump slightly left, not fluent 8th, slightly impeded 5 out, soon moderate 5th, slightly impeded 4 out, 4th next, moderate 3rd 2 out, kept on without troubling winner into 2nd closing stages
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, jumped right 2nd, 3rd after 4th, almost on terms 5 out, led 3 out, headed into straight, still close up 2 out, soon no impression and one pace, dropped to 3rd closing stages
held up, not fluent 1st, 10th after 4th, moderate 8th 6 out, moderate 7th from next, soon eased, not fluent 4 out, one pace
soon mid-division, 8th after 4th, dropped to rear 6 out and reminders, eased from 5 out, tailed off
chased leaders, 6th after 4th, badly hampered 5 out, soon moderate 6th, no danger when impeded 4 out, one pace
held up, not fluent 4th and almost unseated rider, soon raced in 9th, jumped right 7 out, moderate 9th next, slightly impeded 5 out, soon moderate 8th and eased, one pace
soon disputed lead, slight mistake 7 out, slight mistake 4 out, headed from next, no extra and one pace straight
towards rear, slight mistake 1st, pushed along 6th, dropped to last 5 out, soon eased, completely tailed off
towards rear, slight mistake 1st, jumped left 2nd, 11th after 4th, no impression from 6 out, eased from next, one pace
tracked leaders, impeded 2nd, 5th after 4th, still close up when fell 5 out
tracked leaders, 4th after 4th, slight mistake 7th, close up 5 out, led into straight, clear approaching last, stayed on well, easily
Champagne Fever won this for Willie Mullins last year and the champion trainer is represented here by Abbey Lane and VALSEUR LIDO with the latter looking an exciting prospect. Ruby Walsh is on board the former as Bryan Cooper is the contracted rider for Gigginstown who own the latter. Ruby's mount has the benefit of experience over fences though he disappointed after falling on his debut at Limerick in December. The selection landed a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in April before chasing his brilliant stablemate Faugheen home in the Champion Novice Hurdle at the Festival here. He holds an entry in the Grade 1 Drinmore later this month so is obviously well regarded. This should provide a good test as Champagne James has always looked a potentially useful chaser, especially on testing ground, while the five-year-old Sizing Codelco has the potential to be decent over the bigger obstacles.
Abbey Lane (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Close up, on terms 3 out, 2nd before straight, no impression and kept on same pace from after 2 out, 4th of 13, 10l behind Some Tikket (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f nov hcp chs sft in Apr.
Champagne James (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Led, bad mistake 2nd and soon headed, 5th 4 out, closer in 2nd next, ridden in 4th 2 out, no impression in 6th when hampered at last, 7th of 13, 19l behind Empire Of Dirt (11-6) at Naas 2m lst nov hdl (4yo+) (1) in Mar.
Dromnea (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, closer in 2nd 5 out, pecked slightly 3 out, dropped to 3rd from 2 out, soon no extra and eased run-in, 3rd of 5, 35l behind Shanahan's Turn (11-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs gd in Oct.
Festive Felon (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) In rear, raced off pace in last halfway, not fluent 3 out and soon detached, eased and jumped right 2 out and at last, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Sizing Granite (11-9) at Naas 2m beg chs.
One Cool Clarkson Evens (12-2) Pr, ld 6th, strongly press app str, kow from last, won at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m ire ptp sft in Apr beating Crude (12-2) by 4l, 4 ran.
Plan A (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) In rear, off pace and pushed along after 4 out, some modest late progress from 2 out, never nearer, 5th of 10, 23l behind He's Our Man (11-4) at Sligo 2m 1f hcp chs gd in Oct.
Sonny B (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Soon chased leaders, not fluent 6th, not fluent 3 out, closed to challenge in 3rd 2 out, jinked around before last where led, stayed on well run-in to draw clear closing stages, won at Cork 2m 4f mdn hdl hvy in Mar beating Cuil Rogue (11-12) by 6l, 23 ran.
Sumos Novios (IRE) 11-4 (11-11) Prominent in chasing group, keen hold, close up from 6f out, in front approaching straight, headed under 2f out, no extra in 3rd and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Rockdown (12-0) at Gowran Park 2m 2f NH flat hvy in Mar '13.
Capital Pursuit (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, progress into 3rd 3f out, close up over 2f out, ridden in 3rd 1 1/2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Measureofmydreams (12-0) at Navan 2m NH flat in Mar.
Heroic Approach (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, moderate 6th halfway, moderate 6th when slight mistake 3 out, no impression, never a factor, 6th of 7, well behind The Tullow Tank (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chs.
Sizing Codelco (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and tried to challenge early straight, no impression on winner in 2nd at last, kept on one pace, dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Arctic Fire (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nh nov hdl in May.
Valseur Lido (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd 2 out, 3rd briefly entering straight, kept on same pace in 2nd from last, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Faugheen (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl G2 (1) in Apr.
Classic Jewel (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Raced in 2nd, slightly slow 2nd and then raced in 3rd, hit 4th, pushed along and lost place from 8th, soon last, lost touch after 5 out, no extra, last of 5, 48l behind Allied Victory (11-10) at Thurles 2m 6f beg chs gd in Oct.
