chased leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 5 out, ridden 3 out, no impression on leaders next, stayed on into moderate 2nd after last, lost 2nd closing stages
held up towards rear, some progress in 5th before 3 out, ridden and no impression 3 out, no extra before next, weakened and tailed off
disputed early, chased leader after 2nd, slight mistake 4th, led before 6th, joined 5 out, ridden and headed entering straight, no extra before last, dropped to 4th run-in
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute 5 out, pecked slightly 2 out, led entering straight, went clear before last, easily
disputed, led after 2nd, slight mistake 5th, headed before 6th, 4th and mistake 5 out, ridden and no extra before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
mid-division early, slight mistake 1st, soon held up, ridden in moderate 6th after 4 out, no impression and slight mistake next, moderate 5th before last
chased leaders early, dropped off leaders 5th, towards rear and pushed along after 6th, ridden in rear 4 out, stayed on into moderate 4th before last, kept on run-in to go 2nd closing stages
held up towards rear, pushed along 5 out, ridden and no impression after 4 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off
Willie Mullins has won the last four of these and CILAOS EMERY has an official rating of 160 over fences though hasn't run over hurdles since fourth in the 2020 Champion Hurdle, when Darver Star was third. He beat the latter in a Listed chase at Thurles last month and race conditions favour him here. Saint Felicien joined Gordon Elliott after an easy victory at Auteuil in March and made a winning start for the yard at Gowran. There'll be more to come and he rates a big threat while Wolf Prince beat the useful Dysart Diamond here in October and has been highly tried in subsequent starts. Early Doors, a Grade 3-winning hurdler and the 2019 Martin Pipe winner, hasn't been seen since landing last year's Galway Plate but is clearly a talented performer at his best.
Wolf Prince (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division on outer, closer in 9th 3 out, ridden in 7th next, kept on without threatening, 6th of 21, 3 3/4l behind Futurum Regem (9-12) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Charli Parcs (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Towards rear and 11th from halfway, pushed along and dropped to rear from 4 out, pulled up before next, at Down Royal 2m 1f hcp sft in Oct.
Cilaos Emery (FR) 3-10fav (11-9) Led, slight mistake 2nd and joined briefly, 3 lengths clear halfway, travelled well after 2 out, pushed out briefly and kept on well run-in, easily, won at Thurles 2m 6f lst (1) gd in Nov beating Darver Star (11-6) by 3l, 4 ran.
Darver Star (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Mid-division when badly hampered 1st, soon dropped towards rear, eased and pulled up before 5th, at Leopardstown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Dr Mikey (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, no extra from next, 7th of 16, 36 1/4l behind Lucky Max (11-5) at Cork 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Early Doors (FR) 7-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 6 out, 5th and slight mistake 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on to challenge early straight, led inside final furlong, kept on well under pressure close home, won at Galway 2m 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jul beating Royal Rendezvous (10-12) by 3/4l, 21 ran.
Home By The Lee (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Pushed along early, mistake 3rd, not fluent 4th and under pressure towards rear, badly hampered 9th and no danger, pulled up 3 out, at Listowel 3m hcp gd in Sep.
Off You Go (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division best, ridden and no extra after 3 out, 17th of 22, dist behind Royal Rendezvous (11-5) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Saint Felicien (FR) 11-8fav (11-11) Tracked leader, led at 2nd, travelled well after 3 out, asserted before last where slight mistake, eased closing stages and reduced advantage, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m Yielding in Nov beating Slip Of The Tongue (11-11) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
