held up towards rear of mid-division, fell 3rd
chased leading pair, went 2nd at 5th, went left hit 2 out and led, headed between last 2, soon lost 2nd, 2nd again briefly before the last, soon no extra in 3rd, weakened into 4th at the last
soon tracking leader, hung badly right from 3rd, lost 2nd at 5th, chased leaders, lost place before 3 out, behind before next, tailed off
keen, held up in mid-division on inside, bit closer at 3rd, hit 3 out, weakened quickly
chased leader early but soon settled tracking leaders on inside, outpaced and losing place when hung left before 2 out, never troubled leaders after
held up in rear, badly hampered by faller at 3rd, hit 5th, never involved
held up towards rear, slightly hampered by faller at 3rd, headway before 2 out, went 2nd before the last, no chance with impressive winner
led, not much room on inside and headed 2 out, chased leaders, weakened before the last
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, went modest 3rd last, no chance with impressive winner
raced out wide in mid-division, headway tracking leaders before 4th, travelling well in 3rd before 3 out, led between last 2, quickened clear soon after, impressive
There will be no hanging about here as Not So Sleepy is headstrong while Goshen, the moral winner of the Triumph here last year and right back to form in the Kingwell last month, also likes to race up with the pace. Silver Streak was only sixth last year but third in 2019 and he caused a surprise in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton in December when beating EPATANTE. But the defending champion clearly wasn’t at her best that day and it’s far too soon to write her off given the manner of her victory in this 12 months ago when she beat Sharjah three lengths without being asked a serious question. Honeysuckle looks a big danger as she defends an unbeaten record. Her last five wins have come in Grade 1 races, including the Mares’ Hurdle on this day last year, and she trounced Abacadabras and Sharjah in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month. Aspire Tower was beaten by Sharjah in the Matheson at Leopardstown in December and would have been well behind Goshen in the Triumph last year had the latter stood up.
Abacadabras (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Ran 4th, went 2nd after 2 out, soon pushed along and no impression on winner in straight, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Aspire Tower (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Led, not fluent 3 out, pressed 2 out where not fluent, ridden run-in, soon strongly pressed, headed final 100 yards, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Sharjah (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Goshen (FR) 10-3 (11-2) Led early, chased leader, led going strongly after 3 out, drew clear before 2 out, easily, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) hvy in Feb beating Song For Someone (11-8) by 22l, 6 ran.
James Du Berlais (FR) (10-7) 2nd of 7, shd behind Moises Has (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 3f hvy in Nov.
Not So Sleepy 20-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, made virtually all, possibly headed briefly 4th, clear when edged left run-in, stayed on gamely, won at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec beating Buzz (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 17 ran.
Saldier (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Disputed lead early, tracked leader in 2nd, lost place after 4 out, pushed along and dropped towards rear after 2 out, weakened, last of 6, dist behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Sharjah (FR) 10-3 (11-12) Held up in rear, some headway 2 out, pushed along and no impression entering straight, moderate 3rd approaching last, no extra, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Silver Streak (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Made all, set good pace and soon clear, reduced lead 3rd, hit next, went clear again 4 out, looked vulnerable between last 2, over 2 lengths ahead good jump and in command last, kept on gamely, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec beating Epatante (11-0) by 6 1/2l, 5 ran.
Epatante (FR) 1-5fav (11-0) Hit 1st, tracked leaders on inside, tracked winner after next until before 3rd, 2nd again before 4 out, mistake next, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and tried to close between last 2, over 2 lengths down and no impression last, 2nd of 5, 6 1/2l behind Silver Streak (11-7) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Honeysuckle 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, headway to dispute lead 4 out and led after next, asserted and 4 lengths clear 2 out, pushed along in straight and not fluent last, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Abacadabras (11-12) by 10l, 6 ran.
