tracked leaders in 4th, improved to dispute lead from before halfway, narrowly headed 5 out, disputed lead again from 3 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on well under pressure from last, led close home
close up and disputed lead, led narrowly 5 out, joined 3 out, ridden next, kept on well under pressure, headed close home
held up in touch, keen early, progress into 4th from halfway, close up travelling well when left 3rd and hampered 2 out, ridden straight, no impression when not fluent last, no extra
soon disputed lead, close 3rd and ridden after 3 out, still close up when fell 2 out
held up in touch, dropped to rear and ridden 7th, trailing after mistake 6 out, pulled up before 3 out
led early, headed 4th, dropped to 5th halfway, ridden 4 out, soon lost touch, left remote 4th from 2 out
This depends on whether MIKAEL D'HAGUENET is over whatever ailed him here at the end of December. Willie Mullins' brilliant triple Grade 1-winning hurdler looked like beating Jessies Dream and Realt Dubh on his chasing bow at Fairyhouse in the middle of December when coming a cropper at the last. Sent on a recovery mission here a fortnight later, he jumped deliberately and never got going in the race won by Realt Dubh. Potential punters are taking a chance that he's back to his best which is hopefully the case but Mullins has another outstanding prospect in Quel Esprit, who looked potentially top-class when beating Torpichen on his chasing bow at Limerick. Bostons Angel was well behind when the selection fell at Fairyhouse though he looked much improved when landing yet another Grade 1, this time over three miles on this track when Western Charmer was just behind in third. Magnanimity beat Jessies Dream narrowly in a three-runner event here a month ago though he's very closely matched with Sam Adams on a line through Arabella Boy, a recent runner-up to both.
Bostons Angel (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Always prominent, 3rd halfway, headway on inner to lead briefly entering straight, narrowly headed before last, regained lead early run-in, kept on well under pressure, won at Leopardstown 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) in Dec beating Quito De La Roque (11-10) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Magnanimity (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Led, slow at 1st and 2nd, soon headed, led again before 5th, strongly pressed and driven along after 2 out, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Jessies Dream (11-12) by 3/4l, 3 ran.
Mikael D'haguenet (FR) 4-7fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd before halfway, dropped to 5th when slight mistake 4 out, 4th and driven along 2 out, 6th and one pace straight, left moderate 5th from last, 5th of 8, 11l behind Realt Dubh (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Quel Esprit (FR) 2-5fav (11-12) Always prominent, led approaching 7 out, headed before 2 out, soon led again, ridden clear from last, won at Limerick 2m 3f beg chs hvy in Nov beating Torphichen (11-12) by 6l, 16 ran.
Sam Adams (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4 out, ridden entering straight, stayed on to challenge approacing 2 out where led, clear before last, kept on strongly, won at Fairyhouse 2m 1f beg chase hvy in Jan beating Arabella Boy (11-12) by 6l, 15 ran.
Western Charmer (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Led, headed after 3rd, remained prominent, 2nd and driven along 3 out, rallied under pressure next, no extra when left moderate 2nd from last, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Quito De La Roque (11-5) at Naas 3m nov chs G2 (1) in Jan.
