rear of mid-division, headway into moderate 5th 3 out, soon ridden, 4th at last, kept on without threatening run-in
mid-division, 6th 4 out, 5th travelling well 2 out, ridden in 3rd before last, no impression run-in
led, headed 5th, ridden and weakened from 3 out
towards rear and took keen hold, ridden 3 out, no impression, never a factor
cajoled at start and raced towards rear on inner, some progress into 7th 3 out, ridden after next, 5th at last, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, moderate 4th 3 out, went moderate 2nd travelling well after 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well run-in, not reach winner
rear of mid-division, ridden and no impression from 3 out, never a factor
tracked leaders early, weakened from 4 out, behind from next
reluctant to race and reminders at start, in rear early and took keen hold, headway into mid-division at 4th, led next, went clear 4 out, clear travelling well entering straight, ridden at last, kept on well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, moderate 3rd 3 out, ridden in 2nd next, no impression before last
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' winner Labaik reverted to his old ways when refusing to jump off here on Tuesday and can't be trusted and he's meeting much more streetwise opposition in this in any case. Willie Mullins has a very strong hand with five entries. Arctic Fire, runner-up to Faugheen in 2015, returned to top form when carrying a huge weight to victory in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham while last year's winner of this, Vroum Vroum Mag, is an obvious danger to all. She had Identity Thief and My Tent Or Yours in the places that day and should confirm the form with that pair. PETIT MOUCHOIR ran a brilliant race when third behind Buveur D'Air in the Champion Hurdle and though My Tent Or Yours finished in front of him Henry De Bromhead's charge will be much better suited by this sharper track and gets the nod. The latter's yard is also represented by Brain Power, but he appeared to find stepping into top company at Cheltenham all too much for him.
Arctic Fire (GER) 20-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway form home bend on stands side, challenging for 2nd last, ran on under pressure flat, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar beating L'Ami Serge (11-6) by nk, 25 ran.
Brain Power (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, mistake 2nd, went 2nd 4 out until before 3 out, lost place after 2 out, soon weakened, well beaten when mistake last and wandered left on landing, 9th of 11, 29 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Identity Thief (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leader who went clear until before 3rd, not fluent 6th, lost 2nd next, 2nd again after 4 out until after 3 out, weakening from next, last of 6, 32 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Ivan Grozny (FR) 6-4 (11-10) Led, took keen hold, joined 3 out, headed approaching straight, dropped to 3rd 2 out, soon 4th and weakened, 5th of 6, 31l behind Sutton Place (11-10) at Naas 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Labaik (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Refused to jump off with the others and left hopelessly behind, completed in own time, completely tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Cilaos Emery (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Settled nicely in last, hit 5th, not fluent 6th, closed 4 out, went 3rd from 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on flat, went 2nd final 50 yards, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Buveur D'air (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Rashaan (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in 5th, niggled along when not fluent 6th, last after next, well beaten before 3 out, 5th of 6, 24 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Tombstone (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Raced in 4th, progress approaching 3 out, pushed along in 3rd before straight, no impression from before 2 out, not fluent last, 3rd of 5, 17 1/2l behind Renneti (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Wicklow Brave 22-1 (11-10) Reluctant to race and lost about 6 lengths, recovered ground by after 1st but still held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, travelling ok chasing leaders after next, ridden and no impression before untidy jump last, weakened flat, 8th of 11, 14 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Vroum Vroum Mag (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway and in touch on outside 4 out, pressed winner after 2 out, led narrowly last, soon ridden, kept on, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Apple's Jade (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar.
Diakali (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Prominent, led from 1st, went on from 4 out, in command from before 2 out, stayed on well, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m Good - Yielding in Apr beating Stars Over The Sea (11-0) by 20l, 5 ran.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Led, not fluent 4 out, mistake 2 out, driven and headed before last, lost 2nd at hurdle, held in 3rd after, kept on same pace, edged right final 75 yards, 3rd of 11, 7 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
