held up in rear on outside, some headway after 5th, still towards rear but in touch when blundered 3 out, outpaced after, well beaten from 2 out
led, joined 2 out, soon headed, lost 2nd before last, weakened flat
held up in rear on inside, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 2 out, 7th after final bend, stayed on flat, went 5th close home, never nearer
raced freely, chased leader, not fluent 2nd, challenged before next, switched right and outpaced after 3 out, switched left approaching last, no impression, kept on
held up in rear, pushed along and effort when pushed right after 3 out, chasing leaders when mistake next, soon outpaced, went 4th and stayed on flat
mid-division, closed 4th, pushed along before 3 out, soon beaten, behind from 2 out
pulled hard early, mid-division, headway 4th, lost place after next, well beaten from 2 out
chasing leaders after 1st, prominent from 3rd, every chance 2 out, 3rd and looking held when jumped left last, no impression on winner flat but kept on to press for 2nd until held by that rival towards finish
mid-division on inside, closed 4th, pushed along after 2 out, driven and switched left before last, went 1 1/2 lengths 2nd when mistake and lost footing at last, no impression on winner after, stayed on
in touch in mid-division on outside, closed 3rd, switched towards inside from after 5th, challenged 2 out, soon led, quickened from home bend, stayed on well and clear flat
Epatante, the winner two years ago, was more like her old self when beating Glory And Fortune and Not So Sleepy in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. The runner-up franked the form by winning the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month but the Henderson mare was firmly put in her place by Henry De Bromhead’s superstar HONEYSUCKLE in this last year and again later at Punchestown. The latter beat Zanahiyr and Saint Roi in last month’s Irish Champion Hurdle and she’ll be a warm order to make it 15 unbeaten with Appreciate It having a first outing since running away with the Supreme Novices’ on this day 12 months ago. Teahupoo is 6-7 over timber but is having a first run outside Ireland since joining Gordon Elliott and not many five-year-olds have won this in recent times.
Adagio (GER) 15-8 (11-7) Chased front pair, hit 2nd, headway to track leader before 2 out, pressed leader 2 out, led narrowly before last, ridden and headed 110 yards out, stayed on but no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Goshen (11-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
Appreciate It (IRE) 8-11fav (11-7) Chased leader, challenged going well 3 out, led 2 out, drawing clear when left 15 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly, impressive, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar beating Ballyadam (11-7) by 24l, 8 ran.
Glory And Fortune (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders on long run to 3 out, challenged 3 out, soon led, strongly pressed and stayed on gamely run-in, all out, won at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb beating I Like To Move It (11-3) by shd, 14 ran.
Not So Sleepy 4-1 (11-7) Reluctant to line up and started slowly, soon recovered to lead and set good pace, jumped slowly and joined 3rd, jumped slowly 4 out, narrowly headed next, chased winner under strong pressure until approaching 2 out, weakened between last two, last of 5, 11 1/2l behind Epatante (11-0) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Saint Roi (FR) 12-1 (11-12) In rear, not fluent at 1st, slight mistake at 3rd, 5th before 4th, mistake 3 out, no impression in 4th before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 5, 9 1/4l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Teahupoo (FR) 13-8fav (11-10) In touch, 3rd at 4th, closed before 3 out, led after 3 out, asserted before last where slight mistake, kept on well, eased closing stages, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m (1) hvy in Feb beating Darasso (11-10) by 11l, 7 ran.
Tommy's Oscar (IRE) 4-7fav (11-4) Held up, headway to track leaders 3 out, forged into lead travelling well approaching last, kept on well flat, readily, won at Haydock 2m (1) sft in Jan beating Global Citizen (11-4) by 5l, 6 ran.
Zanahiyr (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, bad mistake at 1st, took closer order 4 out, closed 2 out, no impression on leader before last, ridden and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 6 1/2l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Epatante (FR) 4-5fav (11-0) Bit keen tracking leader, led narrowly 3 out, 4 lengths ahead next, always doing enough, won at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec beating Glory And Fortune (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Honeysuckle 1-5fav (11-5) Raced 3rd, travelled well and progress to lead before 2 out, asserted and clear before last, kept on well, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb beating Zanahiyr (11-12) by 6 1/2l, 5 ran.
