raced mainly in 4th, not fluent 3 out, progress to dispute lead approaching last, soon ridden to lead, drifted left run-in, pressed close home and all out to hold on
raced in rear, good progress on outer from 2 out and improved to dispute lead approaching last, ridden and headed run-in, soon no extra and weakened
led, jumped left 2nd, headed and dropped to 2nd from 3rd, improved to dispute lead from 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, soon dropped to 4th, rallied to challenge run-in and briefly went 2nd, dropped to 3rd near line
took keen hold in 3rd, not fluent at times, dropped to rear from 2 out, switched left and ridden in 4th approaching last, switched right run-in and kept on well closing home without reaching winner
chased leader in 2nd, improved to lead after 3rd, not fluent 5 out, pushed along and joined 2 out, soon headed and ridden, dropped to rear and no extra before last
Willie Mullins has won the last nine and relies solely on SAINT ROI, the impressive County Hurdle winner, who sauntered home in a Grade 3 on his reappearance at Tipperary. He's an exciting prospect though takes on a genuine Grade 1 rivals here. Supasundae beat Buveur D'Air in the Aintree Hurdle last year before runner-up to that rival in the Champion Hurdle on this track and, though not in that kind of form subsequently, will be at his peak for this. Abacadabras was in brilliant form at Grade 1 level last winter, scoring at Leopardstown and beaten narrowly by Envoi Allen at Fairyhouse and Shishkin at Cheltenham. He was surprisingly beaten on his reappearance but had Jason The Militant behind and is expected to bounce back. Coeur Sublime was trained by Gordon Elliott when landing a Down Royal Grade 2 on last year's reappearance but has changed stables since well beaten in the Champion Hurdle.
Abacadabras (FR) 8-15fav (11-12) Raced in 3rd, a little keen, slight mistake 3 out, soon challenged travelling well on outer and on terms before next, ridden and headed last, disputed 2nd run-in, no impression on winner, kept on one pace, just prevailed for 2nd post, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Aspire Tower (11-6) at Down Royal 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Coeur Sublime (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) In touch in mid-division, mistake 5th, well beaten from 3 out, 15th of 17, dist behind Epatante (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Jason The Militant (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, a little keen, not fluent 5th and slight mistake next, pushed along to challenge and on terms before 2 out, ridden and headed last, disputed 2nd run-in, no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 3rd post, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Aspire Tower (11-6) at Down Royal 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Saint Roi (FR) 4-7fav (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, slight mistake 3 out, switched out to come around rivals entering straight, smooth progress to challenge before 2 out, led 2 out, quickly asserted, not fluent last, kept on well run-in, comfortably, won at Tipperary 2m (1) gd in Oct beating Tigris River (11-2) by 5 1/2l, 5 ran.
Supasundae 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, soon 4th, pushed along approaching straight, soon effort on outer, no impression approaching 2 out where slight mistake, no extra, 5th of 8, 30 3/4l behind Sire Du Berlais (11-7) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
