held up in rear, not fluent 4th, slightly hampered 4 out, soon ridden and beaten, weakened before next, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch in 4th, fell 3rd
held up in mid-division, closed 4 out, 3rd before 3 out, led 2 out, allowed to drift right when drawing clear before last, stayed on strongly, impressive
mid-division on inside, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
led until 2 out, no impression on winner before not fluent last, edged right flat, being closed on by 3rd close home
held up in mid-division, brought down 3rd
held up in rear, jumped right at times, closed after mistake 4 out, went 3rd last, no chance with winner, kept on under pressure and closing on 2nd close home
with leader, hit 2nd, lost 2nd 4 out, well beaten before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, hit next, ridden after 2 out, dropped to 4th last, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, went 5th 3 out, shaken up after 2 out, never on terms and well held before last
A large number of five-year-olds have run in this since 1985 but only one has been successful so the odds look stacked against Espoir D'Allen. Buveur D'Air goes for the hat-trick but his crown slipped a little when beaten by stablemate Verdana Blue in the Christmas Hurdle. He only beat Melon a neck last year and the latter has a solid record here so could go well at a price, despite this season’s struggles including a heavy defeat last time at Leopardstown behind Apple's Jade. Gordon Elliott’s mare has won 14 of her 20 hurdle starts and never finished out of the first three but she is probably better over further, though won’t have to make her own running in this with Global Citizen among the opposition. Brain Power beat Silver Streak in the International here in December while Sharjah has gone up a level this season but LAURINA (NAP) can be Willie Mullins’ sixth winner of hurdling’s Blue Riband. She’s yet to suffer defeat since joining the yard and bolted up in a Grade 2 at The Festival last year. Two easy wins in lesser company this term will have put her spot-on for this and she did land a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse last spring.
Brain Power (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, closed going strongly 4th, 2nd from 2 out, led approaching last, soon went clear, idled flat, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gs in Dec beating Silver Streak (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Buveur D'Air (FR) 1-5fav (11-6) Tracked leader 1st, left in lead on long run before 3rd, steadied into 2nd place 3 out, led on bit 2 out, quickened clear from the last, not extended, won at Sandown 2m lst (1) sft in Feb beating Vision Des Flos (11-2) by 2l, 5 ran.
Espoir D'Allen (FR) 4-9fav (11-8) Tracked leaders in 4th, mistake 5th, closer in 3rd next, travelling well on outer in 3rd 2 out, improved to lead before last, slight mistake at last, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Naas 2m (1) Yielding in Jan beating Wicklow Brave (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Global Citizen (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led after 3rd, made rest, shaken up after 2 out, clear last, ridden out, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m (1) gs in Jan beating Silver Streak (11-8) by 3l, 5 ran.
Melon 4-1 (11-10) Waited with, a little keen, soon 4th, not fluent 4th and 5th, pushed along from final hurdle, one pace straight, 4th of 6, 21 3/4l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Sharjah (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, switched right after 2 out and headway on outer early straight, edged left and progress to lead last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Dec beating Supasundae (11-10) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Silver Streak (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-8) In touch, tracked winner when blundered and lost place 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, ridden after next, regained 2nd last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Global Citizen (11-8) at Haydock 2m (1) gs in Jan.
Apple's Jade (FR) 8-11fav (11-3) Made all, inclined to jump slightly right, pushed along after final hurdle, asserted from 2f out, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb beating Supasundae (11-10) by 16l, 6 ran.
Laurina (FR) 3-10fav (11-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 4th, jumped into lead 2 out, asserted before last, eased clear run-in, not extended, won at Punchestown 2m 4f lst (1) Good - Yielding in Feb beating Stormy Ireland (11-1) by 6l, 6 ran.
Verdana Blue (IRE) 1-3fav (9-6) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 3f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong, never enough pace to challenge, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Gumball (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Feb.
