ran 4th, pushed along after 2 out and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace run-in
led, not fluent and headed 3rd, 2nd halfway, pushed along entering straight and no impression on winner before last, under pressure and kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along approaching straight and no impression before last, kept on one pace run-in
ran 5th, pushed along approaching straight and no impression before last, kept on one pace
always rear, never a factor, pushed along and no extra 2 out, weakened
tracked leader, progress to lead 3rd, pushed along and 2 lengths clear last, under pressure and kept on well run-in
Vroum Vroum Mag has won nine successive races for Willie Mullins, six of them over fences. She gained her first Grade 1 victory in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham but hasn't been facing the kind of top opposition she'll be meeting here like My Tent Or Yours or IDENTITY THIEF and it's the latter who gets the nod. They met in the Champion Hurdle won by Annie Power and it was the former who did best, finishing runner-up on his first start for a year. He's since been well beaten by the champion at Aintree though over an extra half-mile which he had never raced over previously. But the selection won the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and was expected to go well at Cheltenham but appeared not to be suited by the track and weakened quickly. Willie Mullins has a second string to his bow in Sempre Medici though he was a long way behind in the Champion Hurdle while the handicapper Fethard Player looks outclassed despite an excellent second in the County Hurdle last month. Ted Veale unseated his rider in a handicap chase here on Wednesday and this is a different ball game.
Fethard Player (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged last (usual 2 out), every chance approaching omitted last, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression with winner on extended flat, 2nd of 26, 2 1/2l behind Superb Story (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Identity Thief (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, outpaced after 3 out, hung left and weakened before last, 6th of 12, 18 1/2l behind Annie Power (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in 5th, not much room briefly bend after 2nd, closed 5th, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 10 lengths and well held when blundered last, 2nd of 6, 18l behind Annie Power (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Sempre Medici (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear on outside, struggling after 5th, well beaten 3 out, blundered next, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Ted Veale (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, progress into 9th before 4 out, closer in 8th when bad mistake and unseated rider 2 out, at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Vroum Vroum Mag (FR) 4-6fav (11-5) Held up towards rear of mid-division, smooth headway on outside 4 out, switched inside next, challenged going well between last 2, led approaching last, ridden out flat, kept on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar beating Rock On The Moor (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 19 ran.
