tracked leaders in 5th, bad mistake and unseated rider at 2nd
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, mistake 12th, slight mistake 14th and rider looked down, pushed along and dropped to 5th next, ridden in 4th after 3 out, moderate 4th when jumped right 2 out, weakened
tracked leader in 2nd, led and slight mistake 3 out, joined and ridden before 2 out, led after 2 out, went clear before last, stayed on well run-in
led, hung left after 8th, jumped left and hung left thereafter, headed 3 out, disputed lead and pushed along before 2 out, again jumped left 2 out and soon headed, jumped left at last, hung badly left inside final furlong, 3rd close home
in rear, reminder 13th, ridden in moderate 6th 3 out, went 5th 2 out, no impression, moderate 4th inside final furlong
held up behind leaders, short of room briefly and slight mistake 15th, soon ridden and no impression, weakened straight, tailed off
tracked leaders, slight mistake 14th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, 3rd and no impression on leaders 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on without threatening winner in 2nd close home
An excellent turnout with nothing ruled out with the likely outsider Sandor Clegane having won three out of four on this track. Churchstonewarrior has a penalty for landing a Grade 2 at Navan in February and faces better rivals here. Affordable Fury and Favori De Champdou, both high-class hurdlers, made their chasing debuts at Galway last month with the former just coming out on top. Both will improve as will the latter‘s stablemate Maxxum from his debut success over fences at Tipperary. The 2021 Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios beat a very smart rival in Cool Survivor on his chasing bow at Limerick while FLOORING PORTER (NAP) looked a natural when making a winning start over the bigger obstacles at Cheltenham. The runner-up, who had won his previous four, came out and won by 20 lengths at the weekend so the dual Stayers‘ Hurdle winner can remain unbeaten.
Churchstonewarrior (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Disputed lead early, headed 3rd and remained prominent, improved to lead after 3 out, ridden and slight mistake next, joined briefly at last, led and stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Navan 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb beating Mahler Mission (11-3) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Affordale Fury (IRE) 4-6fav (11-12) Tracked leader, slight mistake 2nd, 2nd halfway, headway to challenge before 2 out and led last, pushed along approaching straight, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, won at Galway 2m 7f hvy in Oct beating Favori De Champdou (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Favori De Champdou (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Led, pecked slightly 9th, pressed before 2 out and headed last, soon pushed along, ridden early straight and kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Affordale Fury (11-12) at Galway 2m 7f hvy in Oct.
Flooring Porter (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Pressed leader, led after 5th, joined 2 out, stayed on to assert and came clear last, won at Cheltenham 3m (2) gs in Oct beating Broadway Boy (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
Maxxum (IRE) Evensfav (11-12) Prominent and disputed, slight mistakes 6th, 8th and 10th, slight mistake 5 out, ridden after 3 out, led after 2 out, asserted last, kept on well run-in, won at Tipperary 3m Good - Yielding in May beating Walk Away (11-12) by 3l, 7 ran.
Quilixios Evensfav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, jumped right at times, improved to dispute lead before 2 out, led narrowly before last where bad mistake and soon joined, ridden run-in and kept on best to regain lead close home, won at Limerick 2m 3f sft in Oct beating Cool Survivor (11-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Sandor Clegane (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, dropped to 3rd after 3 out, pushed along approaching 2 out, no extra and ridden before last, lost a place run-in, 4th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Imagine (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m hvy in Nov.
