held up in touch in last pair, headway when not fluent 3 out, ridden after next, went 2nd last, edged right flat, kept on well, unable to reach winner
held up in touch in last pair, took keen hold until before 2nd, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
made all, went slightly right when not fluent 2 out, quickened clear before last, in no danger after, kept on well, ridden out
in touch in mid-division, headway before 3 out, effort after 2 out, pressing for 2nd before last, stayed on flat, not pace of front pair
took keen hold, disputed 2nd behind winner, challenged 3 out, ridden and unable to quicken when mistake last, stayed on same pace flat
took keen hold early stages, in touch in mid-division on outside, effort 3 out, outpaced next, no impression after
jumped slightly right at times, disputed 2nd behind winner, not fluent 2nd, challenged 3 out until after 2 out, hung left and unable to quicken before last, one pace after, still hanging left flat
in touch in mid-division on inside, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced before next, soon well beaten
Ruby Walsh was always going to choose young pretender FAUGHEEN ahead of former champion Hurricane Fly. The latter was only fourth in this 12 months ago but he has beaten last year's winner Jezki at Punchestown and Leopardstown, twice, this season and also accounted for stablemate Arctic Fire in the Irish Champion Hurdle in January to record a 22nd Grade 1 success. The selection has only won three Grade 1 races so far but remains unbeaten and hasn't really been tested this season - the one concern is that he has yet to meet any truly top-class 2m hurdlers but he still has untapped potential and will be hard to beat. Jezki won't give up his crown without a fight but history and the form book appears against five-year-olds Bertimont and Kitten Rock while Vaniteux was no match for The New One on the New Course here in December. Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge hated the heavy ground at Haydock last time but still got the job done. He's won all five starts since a desperately-unlucky third in this last year, when stopped in his tracks by a faller, and is the chief threat to the Irish raiders.
Arctic Fire (GER) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in 5th, 5th when slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden, headway into 3rd entering straight, no impression on winner in 3rd at last, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on without threatening winner, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Hurricane Fly (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl G1 (1) in Jan.
Bertimont (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, led 3 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind The New One (11-12) at Haydock 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Faugheen (IRE) 4-11fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led on bit approaching 2out, not fluent last, easily, won at Kempton 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Dec beating Purple Bay (11-7) by 8l, 6 ran.
Hurricane Fly (IRE) 11-10fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along in 4th from 4 out, headway into 2nd entering straight, ridden to lead narrowly approaching last, left further clear at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m hdl G1 (1) in Jan beating Arctic Fire (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Jezki (IRE) 5-4 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to dispute lead 4 out, jumped left next, led from 2 out, ridden entering straight, strongly pressed and headed approaching last, bad mistake at last and soon dropped to 3rd, no extra, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Hurricane Fly (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl G1 (1) in Jan.
Kitten Rock (FR) 4-7fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, 3rd from 3rd, 2nd at 6th, closed up 3 out, on terms before straight, left clear from 2 out, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 2m hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb beating Thunder Zone (10-4) by 12l, 5 ran.
The New One (IRE) 1-6fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent throughout, went 2nd 4 out, hit 3 out, soon shaken up, ridden before last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Bertimont (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Vaniteux (FR) 13-8fav (11-2) Held up hit 4th, headway after 3 out, went 2nd before last, no impression final 75 yards, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Rock On Ruby (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs in Jan.
