soon raced in moderate 2nd, jumped left 3rd and at times after, mistake 7th in 3rd, soon no impression, 4th approaching last, 3rd again near finish
soon raced in moderate 3rd, followed rival and jumped left 3rd, headway to chase leader 7th, closed up travelling smoothly from 3 out, on terms next, soon led, quickly asserted, stayed on well, very easily
tracked leaders, mistake and unseated rider 1st
waited with, soon moderate 5th, no danger 8th and lost place, not fluent 4 out and weakened
slightly impeded 1st, chased leaders, soon moderate 4th, no impression from 8th, 3rd approaching last, 2nd and kept on without troubling winner run-in
waited with, impeded 1st, towards rear and well off pace, not fluent 8th and headway into distant 5th, no extra and pulled up before 3 out
slightly impeded 1st, waited with towards rear and well off pace, distant 5th before 3 out and one pace
waited with towards rear and well off pace, never a factor
led, soon went on, pushed along and reduced lead from 3 out, joined 2 out and mistake, soon headed and no extra, not fluent last, dropped to 4th near finish
DARVER STAR started out last August on a hurdles rating of 109 and, after five victories and three placed runs in Grade 1 company including the Champion Hurdle, ended the campaign on 160. He looks a brilliant addition to the chasing ranks as does Conflated, who is probably more of a chasing type despite winning a bumper and finishing fourth in two Grade 1 hurdles. Exit Poll beat a huge field of maiden hurdlers at Fairyhouse in January but has always looked more of a chaser while the likes of Morosini, Le Musigny and Star Max makes this an interesting opener.
Conflated (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) In touch in rear, niggled along at 3rd, trailing next, ridden and disputed remote 4th 2 out, remote 4th entering straight, kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 7, 17 1/2l behind Asterion Forlonge (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Darver Star (IRE) 17-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led between last 2, headed last, lost 2nd flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 17, 6 3/4l behind Epatante (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Exit Poll (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Raced in 3rd early, on terms after 3rd, soon led, joined 3 out and slight mistake, soon led again, pressed 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Yielding in Jan beating Jon Snow (11-10) by 2l, 25 ran.
Greenway Machine (IRE) 150-1 (12-0) Waited with towards rear, not go with leaders from before 4 out, one pace, 5th of 7, dist behind Shumaker (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 3f gd in Sep.
Le Musigny (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Held up in touch in 6th, pushed along in moderate 5th entering straight, no impression, 6th of 7, 15 1/2l behind Cedarwood Road (11-6) at Naas 2m lst (1) Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Morosini (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, ridden from next, no impression, 7th of 28, 18 1/2l behind Treacysenniscorthy (10-6) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.
Our Friend (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) In rear, fell 6th, at Galway 2m 2f Yielding in Sep.
Silver Star (FR) 7-2 (12-0) Bad mistake 1st, chased leaders, closed 3 out, pushed along before straight, no impression approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 7 1/2l behind Shumaker (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 3f gd in Sep.
Star Max (GER) 13-8fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 2 out, pushed along soon after last and no impression under 2f out, no extra 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 11 3/4l behind Stacks Mountain (12-0) at Listowel 2m 6f sft in Sep.
Rebel Gold (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) Waited with, soon mid-division, headway and effort towards outer approaching 2 out, soon challenged, led after last, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 2m 1f hcp gd in Sep beating Winner Takes Itall (12-0) by 2l, 18 ran.
