led and clear, slightly reduced lead from 6th, came back to field from 2 out, asserted again from before last, stayed on well run-in, eased close home, comfortably
soon raced in moderate 4th, closed and slight mistake 2 out, travelling smoothly before straight, soon ridden to challenge, no impression and slight mistake last, 3rd and no extra run-in, one pace
towards rear, pushed along 6th in last, soon no impression, one pace
towards rear, slight mistake 6th, no impression in moderate 5th before straight, one pace
chased clear leader, slight mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out and lost place, dropped to moderate 6th before straight, no extra
took keen hold early, soon raced in moderate 5th, slight mistake 5th, slight mistake 3 out, no impression in moderate 4th before straight, one pace
chased leaders in 3rd, progress approaching 3 out, soon 2nd, ridden in 3rd and no impression straight, 2nd again run-in and kept on without troubling winner
The veteran HIDDEN CYCLONE, runner-up in the Galway Hurdle in July when Bentelimar was around nine lengths behind with Time For Mabel and Plinth well beaten, went one better when beating subsequent winner Draycott Place at Listowel before finishing runner-up on the Flat. He's in superb form and will take some beating. Bentelimar and Plinth met again in a Grade 2 at Tipperary and the former easily came out best and should do so again. The Game Changer completed a hat-trick of Grade 3's over fences at this time a year ago and is back over hurdles for the first time since last summer. The four-year-old Rashaan makes a quick reappearance after a good run in the Irish Cesarewitch on Sunday but he was also behind the selection in the Galway Hurdle.
Hidden Cyclone (IRE) 6-4 (11-4) Soon prominent in 3rd, switched right under 5f out, closed up under 4f out, on terms under 3f out, soon pushed along, headed under 2f out, slightly impeded inside final furlong and switched right, kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Snow Falcon (11-0) at Listowel 1m 6f Yielding in Sep.
The Game Changer (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Towards rear, some headway but no impression when slight mistake 3 out, soon chased leaders, moderate 3rd 2 out, one pace, 4th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Ballycasey (11-3) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Bentelimar (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden and no impression on winner after 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Ivan Grozny (11-7) at Tipperary 2m (1) sft in Oct.
Plinth (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Chased leader, 4th halfway, pushed along and no extra after 3 out, weakened, 4th of 5, 35 3/4l behind Ivan Grozny (11-7) at Tipperary 2m (1) sft in Oct.
Carpet Elegance (IRE) 33-1 (8-5) Led early, tracked leaders, pushed along straight, no extra from over 1f out and eased inside final furlong, 20th of 26, 9 1/4l behind New Direction (8-4) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Time For Mabel (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, 7th on outer 3f out, headway travelling well to lead 2 2/1f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, soon strongly pressed, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 20, 4l behind Theos Well (11-5) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp hvy in Sep.
Rashaan (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, every chance straight, one pace from over 1f out, 6th of 20, 5l behind Laws Of Spin (8-6) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Oct.
