held up towards rear, still plenty to do 2 out, headway approaching last, no impression on leaders
held up in rear, headway after last bend, went 4th last, stayed on to press for 3rd flat, one pace towards finish
mid-division, mistake 6th, headway after 3 out, chasing leaders 2 out, weakened before last, eased
jumped right 1st, always behind
tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, every chance before last, held by front pair final 150 yards, kept on
held up in mid-division, niggled along after 9th, no impression before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and hung left after 2 out, soon weakened, edged right off last bend
held up towards rear, niggled along after 9th, well beaten after 3 out
led until 8th, weakened quickly after 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway to latch onto leading group 2 out, soon ridden, responded well to pressure off last bend and stayed on well to lead before mistake last, asserted well final 75 yards and well on top towards finish
held up towards rear on outside, pulled hard, headway 8th, chasing leaders 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, challenged before 7th, led next, hard pressed from 2 out, headed approaching last, showed good attitude and stayed on, no impression on winner final 75 yards
mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, headway before 2 out, ridden in 3rd briefly on long run from last bend, weakened last
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, pushed along before 2 out, 9th last, kept on from last, never any chance
mid-division, not fluent 9th, headway approaching 3 out, chasing leaders 2 out, beaten on last bend, weakened well before last
mid-division, some headway before last, no impression
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, 2nd from 3 out, every chance 2 out, beaten after last bend, soon weakened, well held 5th last
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd or 4th, never in contention and well beaten from 2 out
Defending champion Penhill hasn’t made it this time but Willie Mullins still has four runners including the once very smart two-miler Faugheen, though he’s not going to be improving at the age of 11 and has only won one of his last six. Supasundae finished runner-up last year and rarely runs a bad race. He’ll appreciate a return to 3m as he’s been looking a bit one-paced over shorter trips recently and should reward each-way support again. PAISLEY PARK (NAP) had only won a Hereford novice event prior to this season and finished a long way behind Kilbricken Storm in the Albert Bartlett here last year but he’s obviously improved out of all recognition as he followed up his victory in the Long Walk at Ascot in December by comprehensively beating West Approach, Black Op and Sam Spinner in the Cleeve Hurdle here in January to complete the four-timer. Conditions won’t be a problem and Emma Lavelle’s stayer is difficult to oppose. Top Notch ran well behind the selection at Ascot but has never shown his best form around here and a strongly-run race and the big field may not be in his favour.
Bacardys (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up in rear, slow 3rd, 5th from 5th, ridden in moderate 4th 2 out, stayed on in 3rd before last, close 3rd when fell last, at Leopardstown 2m 5f gd in Dec.
Bapaume (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Held up in rear and kept to outer, some headway after 3 out and went 5th next, soon pushed along and 4th before last, ridden and kept on run-in to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Presenting Percy (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Black Op (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 6th or 9th, challenged 2 out, soon led, headed before last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 14l behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Jan.
Coquin Mans (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Led, jumped right, headed after 3 out and no extra in 5th after next, 5th of 6, 18 1/4l behind Tiger Roll (11-3) at Navan 2m 5f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Faugheen (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 5th, fell heavily 2 out, at Leopardstown 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Keeper Hill (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 12th of 16, 35l behind Lord Napier (10-8) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Kilbricken Storm (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Never fluent, chased leaders, outpaced in 5th before 4 out, slithered on landing last, eased, 6th of 7, dist behind Santini (11-2) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Dec.
Man Of Plenty 50-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, driven when mistake 5th, soon detached, tailed off 5 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Shades Of Midnight (11-2) at Haydock 3m (1) gd in Feb.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Led 1st until 3rd, led 6th, mistake 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 14, 18 1/2l behind Aux Ptits Soins (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Paisley Park (IRE) 10-3fav (11-6) Held up in mid-division, ridden after 3 out, headway after next, led before last, soon clear, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Jan beating West Approach (11-0) by 12l, 12 ran.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Waited with early, soon raced in 3rd, slight mistake 5th, pushed along from final hurdle, one pace straight, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Sam Spinner 11-1 (11-6) Close 2nd, every chance when pecked slightly 2 out, outpaced and no impression last, 4th of 12, 24l behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Jan.
Supasundae 4-1 (11-10) Raced in 3rd early, soon 2nd, pushed along from final hurdle, no impression and kept on same pace from 2f out, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
The Mighty Don (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, went right and awkward 1st, headway 9th, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Jan.
Top Notch (FR) 6-4fav (11-6) Mostly in 4th place, handy 3rd before 11th, led 2nd 4 out, led and hit 2 out, ridden clear before last, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 2m 4f lst (1) gd in Jan beating Black Corton (11-3) by 5l, 5 ran.
West Approach 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 8th, led before last, soon headed, no chance with winner but kept on, 2nd of 12, 12l behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Jan.
Wholestone (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, dist behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Jan.
Yanworth 11-8fav (11-2) In touch, chased leaders halfway, under pressure after 4 out, soon no impression, pulled up after 2 out, at Haydock 3m (1) gd in Feb.
