tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden in 3rd 2 out, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd after last
mid-division on inner, ridden in 8th 3 out, soon no impression, never a factor
tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
rear of mid-division, 7th 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one paced straight
held up in rear, pushed along 3rd and trailing under pressure halfway, some modest progress from 2 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, ridden in 5th 3 out, soon no impression
led, joined and ridden 3 out, headed before last, dropped to 4th at last, no extra
tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead 3 out, ridden from next, headed before last, no impression on winner when not fluent at last, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong
always behind, slight mistake 2nd, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
mid-division, headway into 4th 2 out, improved travelling well to lead before last, ridden clear when mistake at last, stayed on well run-in
Several of the principals ran at Cheltenham and have had subsequent runs though not QUALANDO. Paul Nicholls' French import looked potentially high-class when landing the Fred Winter and though meeting better class rivals here is taken to complete a hat-trick. Buiseness Sivola was around 8l behind at the Festival and showed how strong the form is when comfortably beating Prussian Eagle in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse. Thunder Zone, another who was well behind at Cheltenham, won his next race at Cork and was nowhere near his best back there last month. Petite Parisienne did better than Stars Over The Sea, Matorico and Pain Au Chocolat in the Triumph Hurdle and has since run a fine race behind the classy Bitofapuzzle in the Mares' Championship Final at Fairyhouse. She should go well while Pain Au Chocolat wasn't showing her true for at the Festival and should do much better. Fiscal Focus followed a shock debut victory in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown in December by finishing last in the Irish Champion Hurdle a month later.
Buiseness Sivola (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 3rd halfway, progress to lead before 2 out, asserted approaching last, stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Apr beating Prussian Eagle (11-0) by 3l, 9 ran.
Fiscal Focus (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd and hung left for much, close 3rd 3 out, ridden and weakened from next, last of 6, 43l behind Hurricane Fly (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl G1 (1) in Jan.
Matorico (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Towards rear of mid-division, headway after 3 out, driven to chase leaders after next, unable to get on terms, weakened last, 10th of 16, 25l behind Peace And Co (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, 39l behind Peace And Co (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Prussian Eagle (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, some progress in 7th 2 out, went 3rd last, kept on into 2nd run-in without troubling winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Buiseness Sivola (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Apr.
Qualando (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led last, driven and pressed flat, stayed on well, asserting towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m hcap hdle Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar beating Bouvreuil (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 22 ran.
Stars Over The Sea (USA) 22-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear and keen, ridden after last, kept on same pace and no impression, 4th of 10, 5l behind All Yours (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr.
Thunder Zone 7-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, under pressure from 4 out, soon no extra, tailed off,, 14th of 17, well behind Misty Lady (9-5) at Cork 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 in Apr.
Lettre de Cachet 16-1 (10-7) Towards rear, 8th halfway, mistake 4 out, pushed along and no impression early straight, some progress into moderate 6th last, kept on one pace, 5th of 9, 9l behind Buiseness Sivola (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Apr.
Petite Parisienne (FR) 9-2 (10-10) Held up towards rear, progress into 6th 3 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, no impression in 2nd before last where slight mistake, kept on without reaching winner run-in, 2nd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Bitofapuzzle (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mares nov hdl Gr 1 (1) in Apr.
Punch Bag (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress to lead 2 out, asserted before last, kept on well run-in, won at Tramore 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Apr beating Poker Gold (11-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
