tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd and closer early straight, pushed along to lead before last, ridden and kept on well run-in
always towards rear, never a factor, no impression in rear after 3 out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression after 3 out, no extra when mistake next, weakened
towards rear early, mid-division halfway, 6th 4 out, pushed along on outer approaching straight and soon no extra
rear of mid-division, slight mistake 4th and pushed along briefly, towards rear and no impression after 3 out, no extra, never a factor
mid-division, some headway after 3 out and 4th entering straight, ridden and no impression in 5th approaching last, no extra run-in
always towards rear, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, kept on one pace, never a factor
mid-division, 9th halfway, pushed along after 3 out and no extra approaching next
prominent early, tracked leaders and 3rd halfway, lost place approaching 2 out, soon no extra
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway to lead 2 out, pushed along and headed before last, no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace
towards rear, some headway on outer approaching 2 out, no impression before last, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, headway after 3 out and 5th before next, 4th and pushed along approaching last, kept on into 3rd run-in
chased leaders on inner, not fluent 4th, 6th halfway, pushed along after 3 out, kept on one pace in straight
led, not fluent 4th and 4 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden and no impression in 3rd before last where slight mistake, no extra run-in
Plinth won this in 2017, one of nine victories over hurdles, though he's now moved to Enda Bolger, who also saddles the once top-class Yanworth, who is probably warming up for the cross-country season. Willie Mullins has won this four times in the past six seasons and Aramon will be primed to continue the sequence. Runner-up in the County Hurdle, race conditions aren't in his favour this time as he has to concede 11lb to PETIT MOUCHOIR (NAP), who is rated 4lb higher. Henry De Bromhead's charge, an excellent fifth in the Champion Hurdle, was only beaten a length in the Irish Version and if running up to form has to be the one to beat. He was beaten a long way in this a year ago behind David's Charm but that wasn't his form. Charles Byrnes' pair Wonder Laish and Turnpike Trip will be tuned up for this and worth a market check.
Aramon (GER) 8-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway on outside after 2 out, shaken up against stands rail before last, ridden and switched left flat, stayed on, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 24, 4 1/2l behind Saint Roi (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Chosen Mate (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, led going well after 2 out, mistake last, stayed on, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar beating Eclair De Beaufeu (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 18 ran.
Davids Charm (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up in 5th, last and slight mistake 7th, ridden 3 out, no impression, 5th of 6, 25 1/4l behind Honeysuckle (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Turnpike Trip 6-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd until between last 2, stayed on same pace in 3rd, weakened and lost that placing run-in, 4th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Not So Sleepy (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden and outpaced after next, kept on under pressure flat, no impression, 7th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Burning Victory (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar.
Razoul (IRE) 9-4fav (9-10) Rear of mid-division, ridden on outer over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 6 1/2l behind Oromo (9-1) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gf in Jun.
Early Doors (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Held up in 4th, slight mistakes 1st and 2nd, moderate 4th at halfway, left moderate 3rd at 8th, pushed along in moderate 3rd before 2 out, ridden in moderate 3rd entering straight, went moderate 2nd after last, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Yaha Fizz (11-3) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Feb.
Hearts Are Trumps (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division on inner, headway into 5th entering straight, soon ridden, no impression, 6th of 15, 7 1/2l behind Janidil (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Ornua (IRE) 13-8 (11-12) Led, pressed 4 out, joined between last 2, headed before last, soon briefly back on terms, not match winner and one pace closing stages, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Castlegrace Paddy (11-10) at Navan 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Led after 1st, clear after 5th until before 3 out where not fluent, headed between last 2, soon hanging right, no extra towards finish, 5th of 17, 11 1/2l behind Epatante (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Plinth (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Towards rear and well off pace, closer 4 out, 3rd 2 out, soon ridden to go 2nd, no impression on winner when mistake last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Davids Charm (11-0) at Tipperary 2m (1) gd in Oct.
Wonder Laish 7-1 (11-6) Waited with, raced in 17th early, some headway from before final hurdle, no extra from under 2f out, 17th of 19, 23 1/4l behind Off You Go (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Feb.
Yanworth 18-1 (11-4) Led to 2nd, tracked leaders until blundered and unseated rider 19th, at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) sft in Mar.
Effernock Fizz (IRE) 400-1 (9-2) Stumbled leaving stalls, improved to lead after 1 1/2f, soon 4-lengths clear, reduced advantage halfway, headed over 3f out, ridden and no extra 2 1/2f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 29 1/2l behind Leo De Fury (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Led, ridden and joined 3f out, headed and dropped to 3rd entering straight, moderate 3rd 1f out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 26 1/2l behind Charli Parcs (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 2f sft in Mar.
Stratum 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear on inside, struggling 3 out, weakened after next, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Jaime Sommers (IRE) 80-1 (10-9) Towards rear, headway after 4 out and 4th next, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, went moderate 3rd run-in, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Jetz (11-2) at Thurles 2m 6f Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Utah (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, pushed along in 5th 2f out, no impression, 5th of 15, 4 1/4l behind Pearl Warrior (10-0) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gf in Jun.
