tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, no impression in 5th after 3 out, pushed along and no extra before next, kept on one pace into moderate 4th run-in
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, headway into 3rd after 4 out, no impression approaching straight, kept on one pace
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 6th and no impression on leader after next, headway early straight and jumped right 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace run-in
made all, went 6 lengths clear after 4 out, reduced advantage 2 out, ridden and slight mistake last, kept on well run-in
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, no extra, jumped left last
rear of mid-division, never a factor, detached towards rear when slight mistake 6th, no extra from 4 out, tailed off
always towards rear, never a factor, mistake 3rd, detached after 5th, no extra from 4 out, tailed off
towards rear, detached after 5th, never a factor, went moderate 8th approaching straight, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, never a factor, no extra after 4 out, mistake last
mid-division, slow 1st, moderate 6th halfway, slight mistakes 6th and next, no extra after 3 out
BLACK TEARS will be difficult to beat if a cracking effort in the Grade 2 Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Chetenham hasn't left its mark. Gordon Elliott's mare may have finished even closer but for being impeded before the last but that's comfortably the best form on offer and she holds Emily Moon, who was pulled up. Willie Mullins saddled the first two in that race and relies on Cut The Mustard here. She also ran at the Festival, finishing mid-division in the County Handicap, though her two previous starts in tough Leopardstown handicaps put her in the frame for this. Champayne Lady was a 100/1 chance for the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle and only got as far as the fourth. She'd won a heavy-ground maiden at Fairyhouse a year ago and probably needs more rain.
Bluegrass Princess (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Led and disputed early, chased leader from 4th, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge before last, pushed along to lead entering straight, kept on well closing stages, won at Ballinrobe 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Aug beating Rock On Dandy (11-7) by 1l, 12 ran.
Champayne Lady (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, fell 4th, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar.
Cut The Mustard (FR) 20-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, no impression last, 11th of 24, 11 3/4l behind Ch'tibello (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Emily Moon (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 4th or 5th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gs in Mar.
Just Klass (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Towards rear, 4th at 5th, dropped to 5th and under pressure after 2 out, soon weakened and detached, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Masons Daughter (11-7) at Kilbeggan 2m 2f gd in Aug.
Rathnaleen Tou (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Waited with, soon in rear, no extra and kept on same pace from 4 out, 12th of 18, dist behind Cash Back (11-4) at Thurles 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Mar.
Rock On Bennie (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Led and disputed on inner, headed and pushed along from halfway but remained close-up, lost place and weakened from 5f out, soon no extra, 10th of 12, dist behind Steel Cap (12-0) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f gd in Sep.
Roxys Holly 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outer, 4th halfway, ridden entering straight and soon no extra, weakened, 7th of 10, 28 1/2l behind Run Wild Fred (12-0) at Limerick 2m hvy in Mar.
Unlaoised (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, soon 4th, no extra and kept on same pace from 3f out, 7th of 12, 15 1/2l behind My Friend Aoife (11-2) at Bellewstown 2m 1f gd in Aug.
Wetbehindtheears (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Twrds rr of mid-div, mstk 2nd, prog in 6th 5out & 5l 3rd aftr 4out, cl 2nd aftr 3out, ld bef last, ko & went clr flat, won at Kinsale 3m gd in Jun beating Do You Know What (12-2) by 5l, 9 ran.
Black Tears 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, challenging when bumped before last, hung right flat, lost 2nd 75 yards out, no extra, lost 3rd last stride, 4th of 22, 1 3/4l behind Eglantine Du Seuil (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gs in Mar.
