led, pressed and slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden and disputed, kept on under pressure, narrowly headed last, kept on same pace, no extra closing stages of run-in
mainly 2nd early, disputed 2nd from 7th, challenged 3 out, soon disputed, ridden in 2nd 2 out, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on one pace
mainly 3rd early, disputed 2nd from 7th, challenged and slight mistake 3 out, short of room on inner and switched out before 2 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, stayed on to challenge before last, narrow lead last, kept on well run-in, asserted closing stages
Dedigout comfortably beat Zaidpour in this a year ago then slammed another old Willie Mullins favourite in Thousand Stars at Fairyhouse in April. He generally goes well fresh and has won eight of his 11 starts over timber. However, PRINCE OF SCARS looked a potential champion stayer when slamming a high-class field in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and the drop in trip shouldn't cause a problem as he was travelling well throughout. Snow Falcon was in a clear lead when falling in that latter race though it was only at the fourth and his overall form is just lacking the quality for this. Lieutenant Colonel is slowly making his way back but if ready for this is by no means a forlorn hope. He landed successive Grade 1 contests at the end of 2014 and though beaten in the championship staying events at Cheltenham and Punchestown should be coming to concert pitch for another crack. Val De Ferbet's future is probably over fences but a second place at Auteuil in May suggests he's no slouch over hurdles and he's not just making up the numbers.
Lieutenant Colonel 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden from 3 out, dropped to 4th entering straight, no extra, 4th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Jezki (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Yielding in Apr.
Dedigout (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Towards rear, 7th halfway, progress after 3 out and 3rd next, led approaching last, kept on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr beating Thousand Stars (11-8) by 3l, 9 ran.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Led, 3 lengths clear when fell 4th, at Leopardstown 3m (1) hvy in Dec.
Prince Of Scars (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Settled in 4th, left 3rd at 4th, smooth progress to lead approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) hvy in Dec beating Alpha Des Obeaux (11-10) by 4l, 5 ran.
Val De Ferbet (FR) 14-1 (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 1f hvy in Jun.
