led until after 1st, chased leaders on inside after, driven after 2 out, weakened last
held up on inside, not fluent 4th, pushed along and well beaten after 3 out
held up towards rear, raced keenly, mistake 5th, headway 3 out, edged left final 75 yards, stayed on same pace, unable to challenge
in touch in mid-division, mistake 5th, well beaten from 3 out
tracked leader until after 5th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, never in contention
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led between last 2, headed last, lost 2nd flat, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division on outside, closed after 2nd, mistake 5th, weakened 2 out
slowly away, held up in rear, some headway on approaching 4th, closed to chase leaders 2 out, soon driven and weakened
slowly away, took keen hold and soon recovered to chase leaders, mistake 3rd, lost place after 5th, soon behind, pulled up before last
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, shaken up after 2 out, went 9th before last, no chance
led after 1st, clear after 5th until before 3 out where not fluent, headed between last 2, soon hanging right, no extra towards finish
held up in rear, headway going well after 2 out, switched right before last, went 2nd flat, edged left, stayed on, no impression towards finish
mid-division, mistake 3rd, outpaced after 2 out, stayed under pressure flat, never on terms
mid-division, niggled along briefly before 3rd, headway after 5th, driven from 2 out, weakened flat
held up in touch and travelled well, not fluent 3 out, eased out right before leading last, edged right flat, stayed on well
This doesn’t look a vintage renewal but the mare Epatante has come on in leaps and bounds this season, though she coughed after beating last year’s third Silver Streak and subsequent Haydock winner Ballyandy in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and will probably need to be at her peak to beat these. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills went out like a light behind another Henderson runner, Call Me Lord, in the International here in December and was out-battled by Ballyandy at Haydock so doesn’t appear straightforward. Sharjah is the highest rated but ran a shocker in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown when behind the likes of Darver Star, Petit Mouchoir and Supasundae. Willie Mullins would not have supplemented CILAOS EMERY without good reason and he easily beat Darasso back over hurdles at Gowran last month. He’s been very lightly raced for his age but has won a Grade 1 over hurdles so warrants close inspection. Cornerstone Lad has not received the credit he deserved for beating Buveur D’Air and Silver Streak in the Fighting Fifth and will run well in this if it turns into a slog.
Ballyandy 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leader until ridden approaching last, driven and ran on to lead post, won at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating Pentland Hills (11-7) by ns, 4 ran.
Call Me Lord (FR) 4-6fav (11-6) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and 1 length down last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Quel Destin (11-3) at Sandown 2m lst (1) hvy in Feb.
Cilaos Emery (FR) 1-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, pecked 4th, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 3 out, challenged wide into straight and led before next, pushed along and 3 lengths clear before last, stayed on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m (1) hvy in Feb beating Darasso (11-7) by 9 1/2l, 5 ran.
Coeur Sublime (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Ran 3rd, closer after 3 out, pushed along and no impression early straight, slight mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 5, 12 1/4l behind Sharjah (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Cornerstone Lad 11-2 (11-10) Led, ridden and headed run in, stayed on, 3rd of 4, 3/4l behind Ballyandy (11-4) at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Darasso (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along early straight and no impression on winner approaching last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 9 1/2l behind Cilaos Emery (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Darver Star (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th 2 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no impression in 3rd at last, headway after last, went 2nd close home and pressed winner to line, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Honeysuckle (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Fusil Raffles (FR) 2-1jfav (11-7) Raced keenly, chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, behind and pulled up before 2 out, at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Gumball (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, mistake 2 out, never on terms, 12th of 24, 11 1/4l behind Pic D'Orhy (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Le Patriote (FR) 17-2 (11-0) Raced wide tracking leaders, pushed along after 8th, ridden and weakened 2 out, last of 4, 12 1/2l behind Mister Fisher (11-3) at Doncaster 2m (1) gs in Jan.
Not So Sleepy 9-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, hit 3rd, headway on outside before 2 out, weakened 2 out, 15th of 24, 13 1/2l behind Pic D'Orhy (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Pentland Hills (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Keen tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching last, quickened to lead run in, headed post, 2nd of 4, shd behind Ballyandy (11-4) at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Led, ridden entering straight, headed before last, disputed lead again after last, headed inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Honeysuckle (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Sharjah (FR) 2-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on inner, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, dropped to moderate 4th entering straight, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Honeysuckle (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Silver Streak (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders when hit 3 out, went 2nd before next where dropped to 3rd, 2nd again before the last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Epatante (11-0) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Supasundae 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division, 6th and pushed along after 6th, ridden in moderate 5th after 2 out, moderate 5th at last, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 4 3/4l behind Honeysuckle (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Epatante (FR) 2-1jfav (11-0) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders approaching 3 out, challenged on bit 2 out, led between last 2, quickened clear from last, impressive, won at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec beating Silver Streak (11-7) by 5l, 10 ran.
