made all, stretched clear from 2 out and kept on well run-in, easily
raced mainly in 3rd, no impression from before last and dropped to 4th run-in
raced mainly in 4th, no impression from 2 out
raced in rear, no impression from 2 out, kept on into 3rd run-in
tracked leader in close 2nd, pushed along from 2 out and no impression from before last, kept on same pace run-in
Willie Mullins has won the last five, the latest with NICHOLS CANYON who beat Faugheen to score a year ago. He's invariably given best to more illustrious stable companions since, as he did in this year's Champion Hurdle behind Annie Power, but goes well fresh and should see off stablemates Sempre Medici and Simenon. The two four-year-olds look different propositions however. The Triumph Hurdle winner Ivanovich Gorbatov couldn't handle Apple's Jade, who he had beaten at Cheltenham, in the championship events here and at Aintree and made a poor reappearance over 2m4f at Naas where he weakened very quickly so he'll need to bounce back. But Jer's Girl, who was only a head behind Apple's Jade at Leopardstown in December, was in brilliant form in the spring winning Grade 1 contest here and at Fairyhouse so has to be a major threat with her allowances.
Nichols Canyon (11-4) 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Rawnaq (11-4) at Percy Warner 2m 4f gd in May.
Sempre Medici (FR) 3-1 (11-9) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, progress into 3rd 4 out, moderate 2nd 3 out, ridden and no impression on winner before 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 11l behind Ivan Grozny (11-0) at Tipperary 2m (1) Yielding in Jul.
Simenon (IRE) 2-1 (11-10) Led, took keen hold at times, not fluent at 2nd, 3rd 5 out, dropped to last and pushed along after 4 out, no impression from next, trailing from 2 out, last of 4, 30 3/4l behind Snow Falcon (11-10) at Roscommon 3m gd in Aug.
Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) 6-4 (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent 3 out and dropped to 3rd, soon pushed along, no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 25l behind De Plotting Shed (11-7) at Naas 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Nov.
Jer's Girl (IRE) 11-8fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, 3rd halfway, went 2nd 4 out, progress to lead entering straight, asserted approaching last where slight mistake, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f Yielding in Apr beating O O Seven (11-10) by 10l, 9 ran.
