mid-division early, slightly slow 1st, dropped to 12th after 5th, slight mistake and no impression 5 out
soon chased leaders in 4th, 5th halfway, no extra approaching straight
chased leaders early, 7th after 5th, off pace in mid-division when fell 2 out
mid-division early, slightly slow 1st and pushed along briefly and at stages after, ridden along towards rear after 4th, 10th after 5th, kept on without threatening from before straight
led in at start, soon prominent, led after 1st, jumped left 3rd and tended to do so after and some slight mistakes, joined before 3 out, soon headed and weakened from before straight, pulled up last
led, headed after 1st and raced in 2nd, slight mistake 4 out, on terms before 3 out, soon led, headed approaching last, one pace
mid-division early, 8th after 5th, slight mistake 6th, dropped to rear and no impression 5 out, pulled up 3 out
mid-division early, slight mistake 3rd, soon raced in 6th, went 3rd travelling smoothly approaching straight, led approaching last, quickly asserted and slight mistake, ridden out and stayed on well run-in
mid-division early, 9th after 5th, pushed along briefly after 4 out, went 4th and under pressure approaching straight, soon effort and one pace
waited with towards rear, headway into mid-division halfway, mistake 4 out, slight mistake 2 out, soon one pace
soon chased leaders in 5th, 4th halfway, 2nd and effort approaching straight, soon one pace
waited with, 11th after 5th, kept on without threatening from before straight
waited with, soon in rear, headway after 4 out, 5th into straight, chased winner approaching last, kept on same pace
prominent, slightly slow 1st, slight mistake 3rd and raced in 3rd, no extra from before straight
Jonathan Moore missed the ride on FLOORING PORTER at Cheltenham through injury but had made all on Gavin Cromwell's progressive stayer in his previous two starts. Danny Mullins took over in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival and the pair never looked likely to be caught in a superb display of front-running. Beacon Edge and The Storyteller both ran very well in fourth and fifth but Bacardys was well beaten and Fury Road, who was badly impeded early in the race, was pulled up. The latter had been beaten nine lengths by the selection in a Leopardstown Grade 1 in December and looks held while Coral Cup winner Heaven Help Us will need massive improvement if she's to win at Grade 1 level. Both Ronald Pump, runner-up in last year's Stayers' Hurdle and beaten half-a-length by Honeysuckle in the Hatton's Grace in November, and top-class novice Klassical Dream are well up to this standard and the former, in particular, looks a live threat to the selection.
Agrapart (FR) 18-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders until 1st, held up in touch in 5th after, headway after 8th, stayed on after 2 out to challenge last, led close home, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Doyen Breed (10-5) by hd, 11 ran.
Bacardys (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Held up and behind, not fluent and pushed along 5th, never on terms, 7th of 15, 21 3/4l behind Flooring Porter (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Beacon Edge (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Mid-division, smooth headway on heels of leaders before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace before last, no chance with winner when lost 2nd run-in and weakened into 4th close home, 4th of 15, 5 1/2l behind Flooring Porter (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Diol Ker (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Chased leaders on outside, steadied before 2nd, not fluent 8th, closed from 4 out, not fluent and every chance 3 out, no extra 2 out, not fluent last, 9th of 15, 15 3/4l behind Thyme Hill (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Flooring Porter (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Made all, hit 2 out, clear when edged right briefly run-in, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar beating Sire Du Berlais (11-10) by 3 1/4l, 15 ran.
French Dynamite (FR) 85-40fav (11-8) Chased leader in 2nd, closer before halfway, pushed along approaching straight, ridden and no impression after 2 out, kept on well run-in, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Stormy Ireland (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Apr.
Fury Road (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before the last, at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Klassical Dream (FR) 10-11fav (11-10) Disputed lead, jumped big 4th and stumbled badly on landing, soon lost place and pushed along in 4th after next, headway before 2 out, soon no extra and in rear entering straight, eased, last of 5, dist behind Sharjah (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Ronald Pump 11-1 (11-12) Soon tracked leaders on inner, soon disputed 3rd, pushed along before straight, stayed on well run-in, 2nd near line, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov.
Saldier (FR) 80-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, badly hampered by faller at 3rd, hit 5th, never involved, 7th of 10, 15l behind Honeysuckle (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Sole Pretender (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Made all, ridden to assert before 2 out, kept on strongly from before last, cosily, won at Cork 2m gd in Apr beating Bapaume (11-9) by 5l, 8 ran.
The Storyteller (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway before last, plugged on run-in, 5th of 15, 9l behind Flooring Porter (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
James Du Berlais (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Keen, held up in mid-division on inside, bit closer at 3rd, hit 3 out, weakened quickly, 9th of 10, 32l behind Honeysuckle (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Heaven Help Us (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Made all, came clear from 2 out, 8 lengths ahead last, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar beating Craigneiche (10-10) by 9l, 26 ran.
Mrs Milner (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, not much room and lost place after 3 out, rallied chasing leaders before next, led on long run before last, came easily clear run -in, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (1) gs in Mar beating The Bosses Oscar (11-12) by 5l, 22 ran.
