often jumped right, held up in rear, outpaced 2 out, headway approaching last, stayed on flat, battling for 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway 3 out, cruised into lead between last 2, effortlessly drawing clear when not fluent last, very easily
took keen hold, led but pressed by rival, clear with that rival after 2nd until before 2 out, headed between last 2, no chance with winner, hung left then right flat, soon lost 2nd and weakened
held up towards rear, reached mid-mid-division 4th, fell 3 out
mid-division on outside, lost place before 4th, well behind after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, hit 2nd, headway on stands side before last, stayed on flat, battling for 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd between last 2, weakened into 5th flat
took keen hold, pressed winner, clear with that rival after 2nd until before 2 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leading pair who went clear after 2nd, ridden before 2 out, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, badly hampered 3 out, not recover and eased, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, hampered 3rd and 3 out, well behind before 2 out, never involved
mid-division, losing place when hampered 2 out, soon well behind
took keen hold, in touch when mistake 1st, soon mid-division, headway before 2 out, 18 lengths 6th when fell last
tracked leading pair who went clear after 2nd, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
NonRunner
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh have won both previous runnings of this Grade 2 with well-backed favourites so LAURINA (NAP) ticks all the boxes on that score. She’s won her two starts over hurdles by a total of 26 lengths, both on heavy going, and should be able to pick off the front-running Maria's Benefit up the hill. Stuart Edmunds’ six-year-old has been a revelation since beaten on her hurdling debut at Worcester but has not encountered conditions as testing as this so far and won’t get an easy lead. Cap Soleil is the other carrying a maximum penalty but she’s also a useful performer and could benefit from the way this race is likely to be run. Dame De Compagnie is preferred to stablemate Countister on the going and also the rest of the Mullins’ legions.
Cap Soleil (FR) 11-10fav (11-3) Held up, closed from 6th, hit 2 out, led after last, held on gamely, won at Haydock 2m 3f lst (1) hvy in Dec beating Angels Antics (11-0) by nk, 5 ran.
Laurina (FR) 13-8fav (10-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, 5th halfway, headway travelling well entering straight, led after 2 out, soon went clear on bridle, stayed on strongly run-in, unextended, impressive, won at Fairyhouse 2m 2f (1) hvy in Jan beating Alletrix (10-11) by 11l, 11 ran.
Maria's Benefit (IRE) 10-11fav (11-2) Led, hit 4th, soon clear, pressed before last, kept on gamely, held on towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan beating Irish Roe (11-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Dawn Shadow (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to dispute lead briefly entering straight, ridden and headed after 2 out, no impression in 3rd at last, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 11, 19l behind Laurina (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f (1) hvy in Jan.
Angels Antics 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, awkward 6th, outpaced after 3 out, ridden and weakened before mistake next, last of 4, 19 1/2l behind Poppy Kay (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f lst (1) hvy in Jan.
Champayne Lady (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, progress into 2nd 3 out, travelling well 2 out, ridden to dispute lead at last, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hvy in Feb beating Moonlight Escape (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Countister (FR) 5-6fav (10-13) Tracked leader, shaken up and 2 lengths down when left clear last, eased towards finish, won at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Feb beating Arthington (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Cut The Mustard (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Made all, a little keen early, not fluent 7th, still travelling smoothly from 2 out, ridden out to assert and stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Catwalk King (11-12) by 6l, 9 ran.
Ellie Mac (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Mid-division early, slow jump 3rd, slight mistake 6th, effort on outer into straight, soon no extra, 13th of 18, dist behind Alletrix (10-1) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp sft in Feb.
High School Days (USA) 12-1 (10-7) Ran 5th, pushed along and some headway after 2 out, ridden and no impression in 4th before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 16 3/4l behind Getabird (11-2) at Punchestown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Pietralunga (FR) 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, 3rd before 4th, 4th before straight, soon switched left towards outer, slight mistake 2 out and chased front pair, stayed on well to close run-in and led on line (no time taken), won at Clonmel 2m mdn hvy in Jan beating Moonlight Escape (11-5) by shd, 15 ran.
Rouergate (FR) Evensfav (10-12) Tracked clear leader, close up 4 out, effort 2 out, ridden to lead flat, kept on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Feb beating Potters Sapphire (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Salsaretta (FR) (10-3) 2nd of 10, shd behind D'vina (10-12) at Auteuil 2m 2f lst sft in Sep.
Spice Girl 3-1 (11-4) With leaders, led after 3 out, ridden before last, held on well towards finish, won at Towcester 2m (4) sft in Feb beating The Vocalist (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Dame De Compagnie (FR) 2-1jfav (10-12) Edgy in preliminaries, held up in 4th, challenged on wide outside 3 out, led on outside 2 out, headed last, strong challenge close home, just failed, 2nd of 5, shd behind Point Of Principle (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f (2) sft in Feb.
