led narrowly, not fluent 3 out, pressed and headed straight, not match winner and one pace from before last
raced off front pair in 3rd, closed up in 2nd 2 out, challenged and led straight, asserted from before last, stayed on well, comfortably
pressed leader in 2nd and a little keen, not fluent 3 out and pushed along, dropped to 3rd next, soon one pace
in rear, pushed along 3 out, soon one pace
FAUGHEEN won this last year, a seventh successive victory in the race for Willie Mullins, and looked set to regain the Champion Hurdle crown he'd won in 2015. However, things went from bad to worse later and it wasn't until tackling 3m at the Festival here in April that he got back on track. He was beaten just over 2l by Supasundae in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown but can reverse the form with Jessica Harrington's charge, who had over 3l to spare over Wicklow Brave in the Champion Hurdle here in April, the race where the odds-on Samcro fell. The latter, unbeaten in his eight previous starts, was expected to make a triumphant return at Down Royal but couldn't contain Bedrock, who was receiving 7lb. It's too early for alarm bells to start ringing but he needs this to redeem his reputation.
Faugheen (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Quickly away and made all, clear at halfway, slightly reduced advantage 2 out, went clear again entering straight, ridden and stayed on run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr beating Penhill (11-10) by 13l, 12 ran.
Sharjah (FR) 5-2 (11-2) Led, pushed along from 3 out and headed before next, soon dropped to 3rd, no extra and kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 4, 6 1/2l behind Bedrock (11-5) at Down Royal 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Tombstone (IRE) Evensfav (11-11) Led, not fluent at 3rd and 5th, soon headed, closed 4 out, improved to lead narrowly 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Limerick 2m 4f gd in Oct beating Montalbano (11-9) by 2l, 5 ran.
Wicklow Brave 2-7fav (11-10) Ran 3rd, mistake and fell at 4th, at Galway 3m Yielding in Oct.
Samcro (IRE) 4-9fav (11-10) Chased leader in 2nd, took closer order from 4th, pushed along and led narrowly before 2 out, soon headed and ridden, slightly impeded from last, no impression and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Bedrock (11-5) at Down Royal 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Supasundae 7-1 (11-12) Soon chased leaders in 4th, pushed along at stages, under pressure from 6th, left 2nd from 3 out, on terms from before straight, soon led, asserted approaching last where mistake, kept on run-in and reduced lead towards finish, won at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Apr beating Wicklow Brave (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
