tracked leaders, 2nd 4 out, ridden and no impression after 3 out
tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, ridden entering straight, kept on same pace in 3rd from last
mid-division, 6th 3 out, soon ridden, no extra from 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 3 out
held up in touch, ridden in close enough 6th before 2 out, quickened between horses approaching last, fast jump and led after last, soon strongly pressed and headed inside final furlong, no chance at the line with cheeky winner
made most, travelling well 2 out, headed at last and dropped 1L off leader early run-in, quickened smartly to regain lead inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, cheekily
held up in rear, off pace 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from 2 out
prominent, close 3rd 4 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, soon weakened quickly
It's hardly surprising that Willie Mullins has chosen to revert MIKAEL D'HAGUENET to hurdling after his abortive attempts over the bigger obstacles last season and the triple Grade 1 winner will be better for a recent run behind Voler La Vedette at Navan. He can get back to winning ways though New Phase will pose a threat if in the same kind of form that saw him comfortably beat Psycho at Cork. Canaly ran poorly on his reappearance and is better than that but Benash's jumping has gone to pieces and he's failed to finish in three of his last four starts, the last two over fences. Head Of The Posse and River Liane are chasers though the former has plenty of decent form over hurdles recently.
Jack Cool (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) With leaders, every chance 2 out, lost place when not much room approaching last, weakened flat, 12th of 23, 17l behind Brampour (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Our Girl Salley (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 4th entering straight, no extra before last, 8th of 14, 15l behind Dare To Doubt (11-7) at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Nov.
Benash (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, moderate 5th halfway, closer 5 out, no extra after next, remote 4th when fell last, in a race won by Popcorn (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f beg chs sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Canaly (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Chased clear leader in 3rd, moderate 4th early straight, no extra, 4th of 6, 41l behind Owega Star (10-9) at Naas 2m 4f hdl hvy in Oct.
Head Of The Posse (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Towards rear and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Blazing Tempo (10-4) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul, 22 ran.
Mikael D'haguenet (FR) 7-4fav (11-5) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, headway in close 4th 3 out, soon challenged, ridden and disputed approaching 2 out where slight mistake, no extra in 2nd before last, kept on same pace, lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Voler La Vedette (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) in Nov.
New Phase (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Settled on inner in 5th, headway to track leaders approaching straight, challenged 2 out and soon led, asserted before last where slight mistake, kept on well run-in, comfortably, won at Cork 2m hdl in Nov beating Psycho (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
River Liane (FR) 12-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 6, 20l behind Out Now (11-6) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp chs sft in Nov.
