led, headed after halfway, weakened quickly approaching straight, eased, completely tailed off
mid-division on inner, 7th halfway, no extra entering straight
towards rear, 10th halfway, some headway to go 5th early straight, kept on same pace under pressure
tracked leader in 2nd, led after halfway, strongly pressed and headed 2f out, soon no extra
chased leaders, 5th approaching straight, 6th under pressure 2f out, soon no extra
held up towards rear, headway on outer into 4th early straight, went 2nd early final furlong but no impression on winner, kept on same pace
slowly away and always behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, 4th on inner approaching straight, headway to lead 2f out, soon ridden clear, kept on well final furlong, comfortably
tracked leaders on outer, went 3rd before halfway, no extra entering straight, soon weakened
chased leaders, 5th halfway, went 3rd briefly and pushed along approaching straight, no extra from 2f out
prominent, 4th halfway, 2nd approaching straight, ridden and no impression on winner from 2f out, dropped to 4th final furlong
Willie Mullins has won this a couple of times in recent years so the progressive hurdler Johnny McGeeney, a winner at Punchestown last month, is worth noting. De Valira last ran in the Irish Champion Hurdle last April and will surely need the outing but Moi Desire scored over timber at Kilbeggan earlier this month and has also won two bumpers. TORNEDO SHAY has done very well over hurdles this year, finishing runner-up in a Listed contest at Naas and beating a strong field at Punchestown last month. He'll need a strong gallop but with so many hurdlers in the race that should be no problem and he gets the vote.
Ash Supreme (IRE) 100-1 (11-11) Mid-division, driven along on inner approaching straight, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off, 24th of 25, well behind Golanbrook (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 2f N H flat gd in May.
Duchamp Jack (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Always behind, 12th of 14, 24l behind Onatha (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 4f mdn stks pol in Nov '09.
Johnny McGeeney (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, 5th 4 out, ridden to lead before last, soon strongly pressed, kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m ext hcp hdl gd in May beating Nearest The Pin (9-10) by nk, 19 ran.
Long Strand (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Prominent, keen hold early, 3rd 4f out, moderate 2nd under pressure over 1f out, dropped to 3rd again and kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Apt Manor (10-2) at Tramore 1m 6f ladies mdn stks gf.
Mister Music Man (IRE) 10-3fav (10-7) Slowly away, soon rear of mid-division, moderate 7th 4f out, moderate 6th 3f out, no extra from under 2f out, 9th of 11, 16l behind Apt Manor (10-2) at Tramore 1m 6f ladies mdn stks gf.
Silver Canyon (IRE) 22-1 (11-11) Towards rear, headway to chase leaders early straight, soon no impression, kept on same pace under pressure, 6th of 21, 16l behind Burn And Turn (10-9) at Punchestown 2m N H flat gs in May.
The Shizz (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened from 4f out, trailing final furlong, last of 12, 40l behind Allure Of Illusion (11-7) at Killarney 2m 1f 4yo nhf gf in Aug.
Tornedo Shay (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, no impression from 3f out, 10th of 14, 13l behind Raise The Rafters (9-4) at Sligo 1m 2f mdn stks in Sep.
Who Conned Who (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Always behind, tailed off, last of 15, well behind Samain (12-0) at Curragh 2m N H flat sft in Apr.
Moi Desire (IRE) 7-2 (9-11) In touch towards rear, ridden from 5f out, moderate 6th over 2f out, soon no impression and kept on same pace without threatening, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Campeche Bay (8-13) at Tramore 1m 4f 3yo fll stks gf in Jun '10.
Takeyourcapoff (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, 9th under 4f out, soon briefly short of room, closer in 4th from 3f out, ridden to track winner approaching straight, soon no extra, 7th of 17, 14l behind Endless Intrigue (11-12) at Galway 1m 4f am mdn stks gd in Jul.
De Valira (IRE) 11-4 (9-4) Reluctant to line up at start, refused to race, in a race won by The Bull Hayes (9-7) at Tipperary 1m 6f stks in Apr '10, 8 ran.
