mid-division, until ridden and weakened soon after 5th
close up until weakened 5th
in rear, hit 4th, stayed on from 2 out but never going pace to reach leaders
always rear
led, mistake 3rd, hit 5th, headed 2 out, soon weakened
in touch, hit 3rd, weakened next
prominent, hit 4th, weakened 2 out
soon ridden in mid-division, behind from 5th
in touch, smooth headway to track leading pair after 3 out, tracked leader on bit soon after 2 out, led well before last, drew right away run-in
held up mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression when bumped last
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
not fluent, always rear
held up towards rear, headway on wide outside after 3 out, stayed on to dispute 2nd but no chance with winner when jumped left last, soon one pace
took keen hold, prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
chased leader, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, hit 2nd, weakened 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
jumped poorly in rear, headway on inside and kept on from 2 out, not reach leaders
keen hold, tracked leaders, chased leader before 3 out, led 2 out, headed well before last, weakened run-in
keen hold, in touch, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, weakened soon after next
held up towards rear, never in contention
Degas Art is unbeaten over hurdles so far and warrants plenty of respect having beaten Katchit already this season, however the filly Lounaos gets weight from most of the field and looks the one to side with in this competitive renewal of the Triumph Hurdle, with Duty, Mountain, Katchit, and Punjabi just a few who make up the shortlist. Eoin Griffin's young starlet was far from disgraced behind three Champion Hurdle fancies when last seen in the AIG Hurdle at Leopardstown and a literal reading of that form should make her very hard to beat today. Although her wins have come on testing ground, she was a good ground winner on the flat and can take this race for the Irish who don't have a terrific record in it. Fellow Irish raider Duty has been the ante-post mover after a seamless victory last time out and as a smart middle-distance performer last year in the UK, the hill promises to play to his strengths. Katchit has only been beaten once over hurdles (unable to give 8lbs to Degas Art) and continues to thrive with racing. Assuming he hasn't been brought to the boil too early he must be a major danger, whilst his conqueror Degas Art looks a good each-way chance although his jumping will need to be better in what promises to be a race run at a decent clip. Punjabi threw his hat into the ring when an all-the-way winner in the Adonis and whilst he has solid claims, dominating this field will be considerably tougher. Phillip Hobbs has won this race twice in the last three years and is represented by Liberate today. A winner of his first two starts over hurdles (beat Zilcash; placed since in the Fred Winter), his recent second behind Paul Nicholls' Poquelin was a sound effort, with Parrain, My Petra, and Altihar all behind who re-oppose today. That form could look very good at the end of this race. Poquelin pulled hard that day but won in good style and looks a major player today although he will need to settle better in order to get up the hill. The impeccably bred Mountain won well on his debut and not disgraced in last-year's Derby, there is no doubt that he could be anything in this sphere. With that potential in mind he is one to be wary of, however we will return to Lounaos who holds the best form and can make good use of her sex-allowance to land the spoils today.
Alqaab (USA) 4-6fav (11-7) Moderate 3rd, 2nd 5 out, closed on leader after next, led approaching 3 out, soon drew clear, not extended, won at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy beating Hoochie Mama (11-2) by 28l, 29 ran.
Convincing 11-1 (11-0) Settled 5th, progress after 3 out, 3rd travelling well after 2 out, ridden to lead last, strongly pressed run-in, kept on well under pressure, all out, won at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb beating Financial Reward (11-0) by.
Counting House (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden into narrow advantage 2 out, edged right flat, no extra when headed close home, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Mountain (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Crookhaven 50-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, kept on without threatening from 3 out, 6th of 13, 32l behind Duty (10-8) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Darusso 5-1 (11-0) Prominent, chased winner and pecked 4 out, no impression approaching last, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Stumped (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4yo mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Degas Art (IRE) 2-5fav (11-8) Made all, hit 1st, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) gd in Feb beating Purple Moon (11-5) by 12l, 4 ran.
Duty (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead entering straight, clear from 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb beating J'y Vole (10-5) by 6l, 13 ran.
Financial Reward (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression when left moderate 3rd 2 out, no extra from last, 3rd of 13, 16l behind Duty (10-8) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Freeze The Flame (GER) 8-13fav (11-8) Led, narrowly headed 3 out, every chance 2 out, just outpaced run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind My Petra (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Katchit (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) In touch, headway on long run after 6th, challenge on inside and led well before last, driven and kept on gamely flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Good Bye Simon (11-7) by 2l, 8 ran.
Khachaturian (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Raced keen, led, not fluent 2nd, ridden and mistake 3 out, soon headed and weakened, last of 5, 33l behind Grand Bleu (11-8) at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Liberate 6-4fav (11-8) Led, ridden and joined 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on one pace flat, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Poquelin (10-12) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Lightning Strike (GER) 11-4 (10-7) In touch, chased leader 3 out, kept on same pace, should improve, 2nd of 8, 8l behind My Turn Now (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Lord Adonis (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Always last, struggling from 4th tailed off, last of 6, well behind Punjabi (11-2) at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Mobaasher (USA) 9-4 (10-12) In touch, shaken up to lead soon after last, quickened and clear flat, comfortably, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Jimboreal (11-5) by 3l, 8 ran.
Mountain (IRE) 5-6fav (10-12) In touch, went 3rd 3 out, kept on well to lead close home, pushed out, won at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Feb beating Counting House (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Parrain (FR) 11-10fav (11-5) Chased clear winner throughout, never able to challenge easy winner, no chance, 2nd of 6, 19l behind Punjabi (11-2) at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Pauillac (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 6th, headway under pressure before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Katchit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Poquelin (FR) 9-4 (11-5) Took keen hold, held up in last trio and well up the pace, went moderate 3rd and jumped right last, 3rd of 6, 37l behind Punjabi (11-2) at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Punjabi 9-2 (11-2) Given clear lead start, made rest, 20 lengths clear 4th, given breather after next, drew right away approaching 2 out, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Parrain (11-5) by 19l, 6 ran.
J'y Vole (FR) 6-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on same pace without threatening winner from last, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Duty (10-8) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Lounaos (FR) 10-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure, 4th of 8, 8l behind Hardy Eustace (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan.
My Petra 3-1 (11-1) Tracked leader to 4th, stayed in 3rd, went 2nd again before 3 out, weakened soon after 2 out, 4th and well beaten when blundered last, 4th of 13, 11l behind Poquelin (10-12) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Artadi (FR) 11-10fav (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, chased leading pair soon after, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Malakiya (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
