chased leaders, lost place after 6th, outpaced when hampered 2 out, well beaten after
held up in rear, raced keenly, some headway when not fluent and slightly hampered 2 out, lost place and soon bumped, switched right before last and closed, unable to make any impression, kept on
prominent, not fluent 3rd, led 3 out, headed 2 out, mistake last, weakened inside final 100 yards
mid-division, headway on outside 6th, challenging going ok when fell 2 out
raced keenly, mid-division on inside, headway 2 out, switched right before last, soon went 2nd, carried right and led flat, stayed on well, well in command towards finish
mid-division on outside, headway 5th, not fluent next, every chance when mistake 3 out, fading into 7th last, no extra
held up towards rear, headway when badly hampered and lost momentum 2 out, soon edged left and bumped rival, rallied approaching last, switched left flat, ran on well, went 3rd inside final 75 yards
towards rear, last after 4th, outpaced 6th, slightly hampered 2 out, kept on final 150 yards, never involved
chased leaders, led 2 out, hung right after last, soon headed, kept on, no impression on winner towards finish
led, headed after 3rd, stayed handy, chasing leaders 2 out, still pressing leaders flat, no impression and lost 3rd inside final 75 yards
held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, tracking leaders going ok when brought down 2 out
raced freely, prominent, led after 3rd, headed 3 out, weakened quickly
This could be another race dominated by the Irish. Stormy Ireland won the Relkeel Hurdle here in January and Willie Mullins also runs Burning Victory, who beat Queens Brook in a Grade 3 at Punchestown last month, and Echoes In Rain. Heaven Help Us and Indefatigable are past Festival winners but so are Mrs Milner and TELMESOMETHINGGIRL (NAP). The latter was just behind Heaven Help Us at Leopardstown in December but has been very much trained with this race in mind so gets the nod. Martello Sky may prove the pick of the home team, ahead of Marie's Rock.
Burning Victory (FR) 1-2fav (10-13) Made all, 4 lengths clear halfway, travelled well after 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in, reduced advantage closing stages, won at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Queens Brook (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Echoes In Rain (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Towards rear, 4th before 4th, improved to 3rd approaching straight, no impression on leader before last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Heaven Help Us (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Led, not fluent at 1st and 3rd, 3 lengths clear before 4th, reduced lead 4 out, headed before 2 out where dropped to 3rd, weakened before last, last of 5, 23 1/4l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Indefatigable (IRE) 6-4jfav (11-8) Chased leader, not fluent 5th, led 4 out, headed before 2 out, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 4, 12l behind Marie's Rock (11-2) at Warwick 2m 5f lst (1) gs in Feb.
Marie's Rock (IRE) 6-4jfav (11-2) Raced in last, niggled along 3 out, quickened up to challenge 2 out, led flat, ran on well, won going away, won at Warwick 2m 5f lst (1) gs in Feb beating Get A Tonic (11-2) by 3l, 4 ran.
Martello Sky 2-1 (11-3) Tracked leading pair until jumped slowly 5th, pushed along turning in, good headway between horses to lead approaching 2 out, went clear between last two, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 2m 4f lst (1) hvy in Jan beating Anythingforlove (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Mrs Milner (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Held up, headway after 4 out, ridden and beaten after 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 15 1/4l behind Thomas Darby (11-0) at Newbury 3m (1) gs in Nov.
Nada To Prada 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 6th, went 2nd 11th until 3 out, went 2nd again briefly last, 4th and no extra towards finish, 4th of 6, 19l behind Zambella (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 5f lst (1) sft in Dec.
Queens Brook (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and no impression on winner approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Burning Victory (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Stormy Ireland (FR) 4-1 (10-13) Made all, not fluent 5th, joined when left clear last, reduced lead towards finish but just pushed out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan beating McFabulous (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Telmesomethinggirl (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Waited with in rear, slightly impeded 3rd and some progress, chased leaders straight, kept on well without reaching front pair closing stages, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Royal Kahala (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Western Victory (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Led after 1st, ridden and headed before 3 out, outpaced after, 3rd and well held before last, 3rd of 5, 17 1/2l behind Miss Heritage (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) gd in Jan.
